Ronald Araujo makes admission over Barcelona role
- Araujo has been used both as a centre-back & right-back by Xavi
- Uruguay international prefers to stick to his natural position
- Jules Kounde presents a similar conundrum
By Tom Gott
Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo has admitted he does not like playing at right-back but has vowed to give his all is whatever role he is handed.
A centre-back by trade, Araujo was occasionally deployed on the right of defence last season and he has seen more minutes in the position this year, with his last three La Liga stars all coming as a full-back.
It's a job which Araujo admits he does not enjoy, but the Uruguay international has insisted he is simply happy to get the chance to play for Barcelona.
"The truth is, I don’t like playing as a right-back," he told beIN Sports. "That’s the reality.
"But I always say, wherever the coach and the team ask me, I’m going to play and give my best, but obviously I feel very comfortable playing as a centre-back because it’s my natural position and it is where I can give 100%."
Araujo is not the first defender to cause such a dilemma for Xavi. Jules Kounde, another natural centre-back, spent a lot of last season on the right despite not actually wanting to play that position.
This season, Kounde has seen more time in a central position, and he admitted last month he was happy with the change in tactic.
"I am happy because I am playing in my position," he told a press conference. "It's true that last season I played a lot of games at right-back but I am always there for the boss.
"At centre-back I can bring more to the team and I am more comfortable but I would never refuse to play at right-back."
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