Barcelona’s €70 million-rated mainstay set to miss his national team’s World Cup qualifiers

Barcelona were hit by yet another blow when Ronald Araujo picked up a thigh injury ahead of the Cadiz game.

Araujo’s absence will compound the problems for Xavi, who already has limited options in the right-back position.

Given the importance of the 24-year-old, whose market value stands at €70 million, Barcelona are also likely to focus heavily on the player’s recovery in the coming weeks.

Ronald Araujo to miss Uruguay matches
With that in mind, Ronald Araujo is all set to miss the upcoming international matches for Uruguay next month, reports AS.

Uruguay are slated to take on Chile and Ecuador in the World Cup Qualifiers, during the second week of September.

But Araujo will not be available during that time, with Barcelona informing the Uruguay team that the player will focus on his recovery process.

This serves as a significant blow for the young defender, who desperately wanted to be part of Uruguay’s qualifying campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

In fact, there is a possibility Araujo might not be available before Barcelona’s Champions League fixture, scheduled between September 18 & 19.

Even then, Barça are unlikely to take any risks with the defender’s fitness, as they look to avoid aggravating the issue.

Until then, Barcelona do indeed have a problem on their hands. Especially considering the dearth of right-backs in the team, Xavi Hernandez may have a serious selection problem.

The Catalans are reportedly just a step away from signing Joao Cancelo, who might join the club on a loan with an option to buy at the end of the season.

As for Araujo, he may have to wait at least two months before he can play for the national team again.