Ronald Araujo's Barcelona future hangs in the balance

Juventus have made their intentions clear, having tabled an initial offer of 35 million euros for the Uruguayan defender, which Barcelona rejected, considering it well below Araujo's market value.

Barcelona are open to selling the player if the financial offer is appealing, but there's a crucial step before any deal can proceed: consulting with Araujo himself.

Deco, the club's Sporting Director, will speak directly with the player to ascertain his desire to stay or leave. Despite rumours suggesting Araujo wants out, Deco insists on hearing it from the player directly.

Barcelona have always aimed for continuity with Araujo, having offered him contract renewals on multiple occasions without receiving a response. If Araujo expresses a wish to depart, Barcelona will put him on the market, either in January or before the start of next season, as his contract runs until 2026, and they won't let him leave for free.

Juventus remain determined to secure Araujo's signature this January. They are contemplating upping their offer to around 50 million euros, which is still below what Barcelona expect but could be sweetened with additional clauses. This revised proposal might be presented soon.

Meanwhile, Arsenal have also shown interest but have not yet made their move.

A new development is the injury to Inigo Martinez, who will be out for a month. Hansi Flick will need central defenders to cover this gap, with Araujo being the prime candidate to step in. However, it seems unlikely that such a significant transfer would be halted for a brief injury period, especially with Andreas Christensen nearing a return to full fitness.

Flick will miss Martinez for upcoming matches. The defender was forced off the pitch half an hour into Barcelona's game against Real Madrid on Sunday. Initial assessments suggest a hamstring injury in his right leg, sidelining him for at least a month. Further medical evaluations are scheduled for Tuesday in Barcelona.

Martinez's absence will definitely affect Barcelona's defensive lineup for their Champions League matches against Benfica and Atalanta. After these games, his recovery progress will dictate his return timeline.

This injury could prove pivotal for Araujo's future. With Flick needing reinforcements in central defense, and Christensen not yet match-fit, there's a possibility Araujo might move to Juventus this transfer window.

Alternatively, Eric Garcia could slot into central defence, although he has primarily played as a pivot this season, as seen in the Copa match against Barbastro where he started alongside Frenkie de Jong.

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