Luis Suarez Offers Advice to Ronald Araujo Amid Criticism
Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo has faced intense scrutiny for his performances in recent seasons, prompting advice from compatriot and former Barcelona star Luis Suarez. Suarez, who played for the club from 2014 to 2020, highlighted the high demands of playing for a team like Barcelona, where fans can quickly forget past contributions and expect consistent excellence.
Araujo, who joined Barcelona B in 2018 and has since become a key player for the senior team, has made 188 appearances and scored 12 goals. However, his recent performances have drawn criticism, with some questioning his ability to perform at a high level consistently. Suarez, who scored 195 goals and provided 113 assists in 283 games for Barcelona, shared his thoughts on the pressure Araujo faces, stating that the defender must perform at an exceptionally high level every game to meet the expectations of the fans and the club.
The pressure on Araujo has been exacerbated by Barcelona’s underwhelming start to the 2025-26 campaign, particularly in defense. The team has kept just three clean sheets in 16 games across competitions and currently sits second in LaLiga, three points behind leaders Real Madrid. Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has gone as far as to suggest that Barcelona should sell Araujo to improve their defensive woes, citing the defender’s tendency to “switch off” in big games.
Carragher’s comments come after Barcelona’s 4-1 loss to Sevilla, in which Araujo started. The defender has made 13 appearances for Barcelona this season, starting in nine of them, but has helped the team keep a clean sheet only once. As the season progresses, Araujo will likely face continued scrutiny, and it remains to be seen whether he can rise to the challenge and meet the expectations of his club and its fans.
The situation highlights the intense pressure and high expectations that come with playing for a top-tier club like Barcelona. With the team’s defensive struggles ongoing, Araujo and his teammates will be under the microscope as they seek to turn their season around and mount a challenge for the LaLiga title.