Juventus are on the brink of securing a significant defensive reinforcement as they enter a crucial 48-hour period in their pursuit of Barcelona’s Ronald Araujo. The Turin giants’ sporting director, Cristiano Giuntoli, is optimistic about finalizing the transfer, which could provide a much-needed boost to Juventus’ backline.
Gazzetta dello Sport report that the negotiations with Barcelona are cantered around a loan deal with a conditional obligation to buy. Juventus are prepared to offer Araujo a leading role in their defence, which has been struggling for solidity in recent times.
Barcelona’s immediate focus is on their Spanish Cup final against Real Madrid in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Upon their return to Europe, the Catalan club is expected to make a final decision on Araujo’s future. While the path to securing the Uruguayan defender isn’t entirely smooth for Juventus, there’s growing confidence within the club about the possibility of completing the transfer within the next two days.
Juventus have already convinced Araujo of the move and is ready to meet Barcelona’s conditions for the transfer. This development comes as Barcelona face challenges in extending Araujo’s contract, which currently runs until 2026.
For Araujo, Juventus represents an opportunity for regular playing time and a chance to rebuild his career after a lengthy injury layoff. The Bianconeri are not only willing to bet on his potential but also offer him a prominent role that could showcase his leadership qualities.
The proposed transfer structure involves an initial loan with various performance-related conditions that could trigger a mandatory purchase clause. This arrangement could benefit Barcelona, who are grappling with financial difficulties and could use the immediate economic relief from Araujo’s departure.
Giuntoli views this as a crucial first step in addressing Juventus’ defensive crisis, exacerbated by injuries to key players like Bremer and Cabal, as well as the potential departure of Danilo. While Araujo’s arrival alone won’t completely solve their defensive woes, it represents a significant move towards providing quality alternatives to current starters Gatti and Kalulu.
