According to reports, Barcelona manager Hansi Flick made a precautionary substitution in the 76th minute of the match against Inter Milan, replacing Inigo Martinez. The player has endured significant pressure this season, and with the score tied 2-2, the Barcelona coach decided to rely on Ronald Araujo, who, in theory, has less precision in ball clearance but has always been defensively reliable—at least until now.

Since renewing his contract, the Uruguayan defender has been far from his ideal form and was notably involved in two key moments that led to goals in the match against Inter, which secured the Italian side’s place in the final.

In the Barcelona dressing room, they say, “When it rains, it pours,” a phrase reminiscent of Araujo’s red card in the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain. The dismissal in the 30th minute left Barcelona with 10 men for an hour, despite leading 1-0. Xavi’s team eventually lost 4-1 and were eliminated.

After the match, Ilkay Gundogan publicly criticized Araujo’s decision, an action that caused significant backlash in the dressing room and infuriated the Uruguayan defender. Months later, after leaving Barcelona, Gundogan revisited the incident, stating, “If you can’t accept your mistakes, you can’t succeed.”

This time, Araujo’s mistakes came in the Champions League semi-final second leg at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium. He entered the pitch with just 15 minutes remaining but made another inexplicable error, allowing the 37-year-old Acerbi to outpace him and score, forcing extra time.

In extra time, Araujo’s mistake was not technical but physical—an area supposed to be his strength. Marcus Thuram, visibly exhausted, easily bypassed Araujo on the right flank and delivered the cross that led to Inter’s fourth goal.

These repeated lapses in concentration have ultimately cost Barcelona dearly in crucial European matches. While responsibility doesn’t fall solely on one player, the prevailing sentiment at the club is that Araujo’s performance level has dropped significantly, raising serious concerns.

Flick would have preferred to rely on Andreas Christensen regularly, but the Danish defender’s condition hasn’t allowed it. As a result, most minutes in central defense have been shared between Inigo Martinez and Pau Cubarsi. This isn’t solely about their performances but directly linked to Araujo’s noticeable decline.

He is now considered one of Barcelona’s sellable assets, especially after his representatives negotiated with other clubs during his contract renewal talks. Consequently, his release clause was defined not as a deterrent but as an incentive for other clubs.

The clause is structured as follows: €70 million for the first 10 days of the summer transfer window, then reverting to €1 billion. This discount is valid only until 2025. Juventus offered €35 million, which Barcelona deemed insufficient. Bayern Munich is also interested.

It remains to be seen what will happen this summer, but Barcelona’s sporting project cannot afford mistakes of this magnitude. Flick still counts on him, knowing Araujo offers different qualities compared to other center-backs. However, the club hasn’t ruled out any scenarios.