Dressing Room Turmoil as Barça Stars Reportedly Urge Flick to Drop Araujo Ahead of Decisive El Clásico
In a stunning development ahead of this weekend’s decisive El Clásico, reports from El Nacional claim that senior Barcelona players have approached manager Hansi Flick, requesting that Ronald Araujo be left out of the starting lineup.
The plea comes in the aftermath of Barcelona’s painful Champions League exit at the hands of Inter Milan, a tie marred by costly defensive errors in which Araujo was directly implicated.
The Uruguayan centre-back was at the heart of controversy during Barça’s European heartbreak, with his mistakes blamed for Inter’s crucial third and fourth goals. While Flick publicly backed his defender in the post-match press conference, it appears that behind closed doors, doubts over Araujo’s mental state and confidence have begun to surface.
According to El Nacional, the dressing room is reportedly divided. Although the initial tensions following the Champions League defeat have somewhat eased, a lingering concern remains about Araujo’s readiness for a high-pressure clash. The stakes couldn’t be higher — with La Liga’s title race hanging in the balance, Sunday’s showdown at the Santiago Bernabéu could define Barcelona’s season.
Some of Barça’s senior figures are said to fear that Araujo, usually one of the team’s defensive leaders, might struggle under the intense scrutiny of El Clásico so soon after such a damaging personal performance. They worry that including him in the starting eleven could risk further mistakes and upset the emotional equilibrium of a team still nursing its European wounds.
This unexpected internal friction now leaves Flick with a difficult decision. The German tactician, still relatively new at the helm, must weigh the importance of standing by one of his key defenders against the wider concerns of team morale and match readiness. Trusting Araujo could restore the player’s confidence and show unity in adversity, but it may also come at the risk of an unsettled squad.
As fans and pundits alike await Flick’s lineup announcement, all eyes will be on whether Araujo’s name features in the starting XI for one of football’s fiercest rivalries. In what promises to be a title-deciding encounter, Barcelona’s unity — or lack thereof — could ultimately shape the outcome.
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