Barcelona may lose key player to two-month injury - FIFA to 'compensate' financially
- Ronald Araujo is expected to miss the start of next season after suffering a hamstring injury with Uruguay
- Centre-back's issue came soon after Pedri suffered a knee injury
- Transfer rumours surrounding Araujo have now gone cold
By Tom Gott
Barcelona centre-back Ronald Araujo is expected to miss up to two months of action after sustaining a hamstring injury in Uruguay's Copa America clash with Brazil.
The La Liga giants are already sweating over the fitness of midfielder Pedri, who is facing up to six weeks on the sidelines after suffering a knee injury during Spain's Euro 2024 quarter-final triumph over Germany.
With news of Pedri's injury still fresh, Barcelona fans watched on in horror on Sunday as Araujo limped off injured during Uruguay's eventual win over Brazil on penalties.
Araujo left the pitch with his head in his hands and Mundo Deportivo report that he could need up to two months to recover from his latest issue.
Towards the start of last season, Araujo suffered an injury to the same area and missed five weeks of action, but there are fears that this problem is more serious and will require more time on the sidelines.
"I think Ronald Araujo's injury is a muscular one, which will be confirmed tomorrow when the tests are done," said Uruguay manager Marcelo Bielsa, who went on to suggest football's increasingly busy calendar could be to blame for the defender's injury.
"It's an option that cannot be ignored," Bielsa continued. "It's important to note that when the full season ends - the one that started in August and ended in June in Europe - players accumulate between 40 and 50 games. Then comes the challenge of playing twice a week.
"All elite players in Europe play twice a week. It's one thing to do it regularly for nine months and another to repeat it in the 10th and 11th month."
Reports in Spain add that FIFA will compensate Barcelona financially for Araujo's injury, potentially earning in excess of €700,000 over the period he's expected to be out for.
Araujo had been linked with a summer transfer before his injury, with both Bayern Munich and Manchester United touted as potential suitors, but his chances of leaving Camp Nou will no doubt have slimmed with this latest ailment.
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