Ronald Araujo Set To Leave FC Barcelona On Free Transfer In 2023 Thanks To Contract Blunder

Star defender Ronald Araujo could leave FC Barcelona on a free transfer in 2023 thanks to a blunder in not registering his recent contract renewal.

The Uruguay international joined the Blaugrana in 2017 from Boston River for an initial fee of €1.7mn ($1.7mn) set to rise to €5.2mn ($5.2mn) once all the variables of the transfer have been activated.

Making his way from the B reserve outfit to the Barca first team, the 23-year-old is considered essential to the future that the club is trying to build under current head coach Xavi Hernandez.

To this end, April 26 saw him sign a new four-year contract at Camp Nou that came with a €1bn ($1bn) release clause which new deals for fellow prodigies Ansu Fati and Pedri also contain.

According to ARA in Catalonia on Tuesday, however, a mishap by president Joan Laporta’s board means that Araujo could effectively leave for free in June next year if it the matter isn’t ironed out.

When agreeing to fresh terms, Araujo saw his pay rise from €900,000 ($900,000) a year to €3mn ($3mn). Yet as his paperwork has not been updated with La Liga some four months since his new agreement, Araujo is still recognized as playing under his old deal which expires in just over 10 months.

Because of this, Araujo is also believed to be earning his old salary. And as Barca struggle to navigate La Liga’s strict salary cap and register players, they might be reluctant to sort out Araujo’s documents as salary space equivalent to more than €7mn ($7mn) would need to be made.

Araujo’s predicament bears similarities to that of Jules Kounde, who is still yet to make his La Liga debut for the Catalans despite joining from Sevilla last month in a €55mn ($55mn) deal.

If the Frenchman is not registered by August 31, he can exercise a clause in his contract that allows him to leave the club for free before having kicked a competitive ball for him.

In a further blow to Barca, who are in debts of around $1.4bn ($1.4bn), they would also have to pay a €2.5mn ($2.5mn) fine to their La Liga rivals Sevilla it is believed.

With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang perhaps on the verge of joining Chelsea, however, Kounde could still run out for Xavi against Valladolid on Sunday.