Barcelona won’t register star Xavi described as ‘world’s best’

Robin Bairner

1 Aug 2024 10:00 BST
2 min read

Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick is already having to make hard decisions, with several senior players so far left unregistered this season as the Catalans battle financial problems.

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The Blaugrana may be closing in on a move for RB Leipzig attacker Dani Olmo in a deal worth a reported €60 million, but back at Camp Nou there are three particularly prominent stars who face the prospect of seeing no action in the first half of the season due to being unregistered.

Among those not to have been registered on Barcelona’s squad with LaLiga is Inigo Martinez, who only arrived at the club last summer on a free transfer, while €40m January addition Vitor Roque is similarly placed, fuelling the suggestion that he could leave the club on loan.

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Araujo will not be registered

Arguably the most prominent player Barcelona have chosen not to registered, though, is Ronald Araujo, who was described by Xavi as one of the best defenders in the world.

“For me Araujo is one of the best defenders in the world,” Xavi said, speaking in March 2023 after the Uruguay international had played his part in shutting Real Madrid out in a 1-0 Copa del Rey victory.

Unlike the case of Martinez and Vitor Roque, who is in the embarrassing position of not even having a squad number, Araujo is struggling with injury and is not expected to make his return until early December, having been ruled out for four months.

Current ETV

Ronald Araujo

D (C)

Barcelona

Ronald Araujo

D (C)

Barcelona

ETV Range

€34.8M - €58M

AS reports that Flick will, therefore, have to be careful with his management of the club’s centre-backs: Pau Cubarsi, who is at the Olympics, Andreas Christensen, Eric Garcia, also at Paris 2024, and Clement Lenglet.

Lenglet, who spent last season on loan with Aston Villa in the Premier League, is described as “cannon fodder” for another temporary move because of his high salary.

Barca had appeared to be open to selling Araujo, with Manchester United and PSG among the interested teams, but clearly no deal can possibly take place until the January transfer window opens.