Barcelona 'rejected two bids from Bayern Munich' for star defender in January

Barcelona knocked back two bids from Bayern Munich for Ronald Araujo during the January transfer window, according to a report.

Araujo has developed into a key player at Barca over the last few seasons and was named into their four-player leadership group ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

His performances in Catalonia have not gone unnoticed and he has regularly been linked with a move away from Barcelona, if only in part to help raise money amid their financial crisis.

Bayern were in the market for a defender during the January window, and Mundo Deportivo report they made two bids to sign Araujo at the start of the month, only for both to be rejected by Barca.

The first offer is said to have been worth €70m up front plus a further €10m in add-ons, with the second bid worth a fixed €80m and €10m in bonuses. Bayern head coach Thomas Tuchel also made contact with Araujo, but the Uruguay international did not want to leave Barcelona.

Bayern then tried to sign Radu Dragusin from Genoa, but the Romanian opted to join Tottenham Hotspur due to the offer of more frequent game-time instead. Ironically, Bayern then signed Eric Dier on an initial loan from Spurs, with the 30-year-old set to join permanently at the end of the season.

Since making the call to Araujo, Tuchel has confirmed he will leave Bayern this summer and the club are now in the market for a new manager, with Bayer Leverkusen's Xabi Alonso among their top targets. Tuchel has since been linked to the Barcelona job with Xavi standing aside once the season is over, though 90min understands La Blaugrana are unlikely to muscle into the race for Alonso.

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