FC Barcelona’s Ronald Araujo Tells Real Madrid Star Vinicius Jr To Focus On Football After El Clasico Antics

FC Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo has advised Real Madrid rival Vinicus Jr to focus on football following an explosive episode of El Clasico at Camp Nou.

The Uruguayan who usually plays in central defense was once more deployed at right back to try and contain the tricky Brazilian in Wednesday’s Copa del Rey semi-final second leg.

While this has worked to great effect in past Clasicos, Araujo wasn’t as successful at keeping the left winger quiet on this occasion.

Vinicius scored the opener after a counter attack in first half stoppage time, and then helped his team administer a 4-0 thrashing that was the Catalans worst home defeat in 60 years to their bitter rivals.

As is often the case, however, the 22-year-old’s evening was shrouded in controversy given bust ups with Gavi and Ferran Torres each side of the interval. At one stage in the proceedings, Araujo pushed Vinicius Jr to the turf for mouthing at him.

Asked to remark on the confrontation in the mixed zone following his side’s loss, Araujo admitted that he got a little heated because Vinicius “was talking to my teammates all the time, messing with them”.

“I always say that he is a great player who will improve much more if he focuses on playing,” Araujo added. “I’m respectful, but he was talking a lot and I got a little heated.”

Regarding the result, Araujo said he was sad “because we have not been able to get to the final and give joy to the fans”.

“We didn’t do well despite the fact that we had a great first half, but we conceded that goal and then after the second we declined a lot,” Araujo explained.

Araujo highlighted how it is “hard to lose”, and even more so for Barca to their Clasico rival. Moving forward, however, Araujo said that the Blaugrana need to brush the defeat off and think about Girona on Monday; or rather “the most important objective”, La Liga.

Though Barca will obviously not reach the Copa del Rey final now and cannot complete a domestic treble, they are still well on course to dethrone Madrid as Spanish top flight title holders while boasting a 12 points lead at the summit.