The links between Chelsea and Ronald Araujo just won’t go away.
It’s a transfer that’s been suggested for a couple of years now, but every window it comes around again. Barcelona’s constant need to sell their most valuable players means it’s never far from the radar.
At the moment it’s Spanish paper Sport who are heading up the story. They’re a Catalan paper who are generally very well plugged in to what Barca want to do, so it’s certainly credible.
Chelsea’s financial situation is a little more mysterious – they may have to sell before they buy, but centre-back is a priority position with Thiago Silva leaving, so if they’re going to spend anywhere, this would be it.
A move that has all the pieces to make sense
While some deals we hear about endlessly, despite the fact that some of the basic facts don’t add up, this one certainly does.
Chelsea want an experienced central defender, preferably one of exactly Araujo’s age – with plenty of time to develop and grow their value, but not so callow as to have to be bedded in.
Barcelona are also keen to sell due to their financial situation.
Araujo himself probably isn’t desperate to leave, but given Barcelona don’t look like winning too much in the next few years, and given they aren’t exactly going to be able to pay him what he’s worth until they’re through this financial hell, the Uruguayan is probably open to the idea.
Chelsea would probably have to sell in order to buy Araujo though – and if it came down to selling Trevoh Chalobah to buy him, we’re not sure that’s a trade we’d made.
Preposterously, TransferMarkt still only value our 24 home grown star at €13m, while Araujo is listed at €70m.
Is he better? Maybe. If he more than 5 times better? Absolutely not.
Anyone who’s watched some of Araujo’s incredibly rash decisions (like his early red card against PSG in the Champions League) will know that he’s asking price has everything to do with being a Barcelona players and nothing to do with his performances. Take a look at his defensive statistics on FBref.com and it gets even worse!
These “Clownlakes folks from BlueCo” should stop being greedy and end this endless chase for players from these broke clubs like Barca.
Araujo isn’t half the defender Chalobah is. He is rash and rough. An all action, all brash no wits or football intelligence player like this guy would get cards for fun in the EPL!
This craze for pure profits that makes you sell the best and experienced CB you have only to go out there and fork another 6-7 digits for a player worse than that academy talent you sold is foolishness.
Might as well suspect this might be a case of money laundering. No caps! That will only be the explanation for these type of stupid moves.
No one becomes a billionaire making foolish decisions like the ones these clowns have been making since they took over Chelsea!