Ronald Araujo hits out at Alejandro Garnacho over Barcelona taunt

Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo has criticised Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho for his provocative social media post in the aftermath of the Europa League clash between the two.

United saw off Barcelona during the first knockout round, drawing 2-2 at Camp Nou before securing a 2-1 win at Old Trafford.

Garnacho played eight minutes at the end of the first game and upped that to 23 for the return fixture, after which he attracted plenty of criticism for a social media post in which he replicated the celebration of Barcelona midfielder Pedri, with the words: "The big team goes through."

Asked whether Garnacho's words angered him, Araujo told Infobae: "Yes. Everyone is as they are, but at that time, it should not have been possible to post something like that.

"I respect everyone and I feel that humility should be ahead of everything. Everyone expresses themselves as they want, but I prefer to have a lower profile and then show what I do on the pitch.

"This is football, he is very young and there is still a long way to go. You have to proceed calmly and humbly."

READ NEXT

Araujo then insisted he would not remind Garnacho about the post if the duo ever face off again.

"No, they are football things that I think of in a different way," he said.

Garnacho, who is expected to choose to represent Argentina over Spain at international level, also attracted criticism from some South Americans for his conduct.

"You have to show him what is good and bad," said Colon manager Pipo Gorosito. "He’s going to make mistakes because he’s 18 years old and that’s when he has to do it, it’s part of life.

“If he’s one of my children, I hit him with an open hand on the neck. That’s the way it is.”