Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo will miss the club’s upcoming fixture against Atlético Madrid after head coach Hansi Flick confirmed that the centre-back is dealing with a private issue. The club has urged fans and the media to respect the player’s situation, emphasising that the absence is unrelated to any illness or virus.
The update initially surfaced through a social media post, noting that Araujo “can’t play” due to a personal matter, with a request for privacy. Flick later addressed the situation in a press conference, clarifying that the defender is not in the right condition to feature and that the club will not disclose further details.
“He is not ready at the moment,” Flick said. “It’s a special situation, and I don’t want to say much. But please respect that, and I can’t say more than this.”
Araujo’s absence comes at a sensitive time for Barcelona, who are preparing for a highly anticipated clash against Atlético, a fixture crucial to their momentum in the league. The Uruguayan defender has been one of the team’s most consistent performers, and his leadership and defensive stability will be missed.
