Barcelona captain receives powerful backing from Uruguay defender amid mental stress – ‘I prefer to leave him alone’

Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo continues to find himself at the centre of attention, but not for reasons linked to performances or results. 

The Uruguayan centre-back is currently going through a difficult personal phase, one that has kept him away from the pitch and raised wider conversations about mental stress in modern football.

Araujo has not featured for Barcelona since his costly red card against Chelsea in the 0–3 defeat, an incident that marked a turning point in his recent run. 

Since then, the defender, who is also one of Barça’s captains, has missed the club’s last four matches, with no clear timeline set for his return. 

The uncertainty has only fuelled speculation, but voices from Uruguay are now urging patience and understanding.

Support from a national teammate

One of those voices belongs to Guillermo Varela.

The Flamengo full-back, who shares the national team dressing room with Araujo, was asked about the Barcelona defender’s situation and whether he had reached out to him privately. 

“I haven’t spoken to Ronald, no. At the moment, I prefer to leave him alone, because he has his family and close friends, who he can lean on and find support in during these times.”

Varela then pointed to the relentless demands placed on elite footballers today. He highlighted how the pressure extends far beyond what is visible on the pitch, especially in an era of constant scrutiny. 

“This is also part of what is happening in football today.

“The pressure, the number of games, the people outside who are never satisfied, who seem to think that just because you are a footballer, you are not affected or bothered by anything.”

We need to be human

Ronald Araujo is going through a difficult phase. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

The Uruguayan international went on to humanise Araujo’s struggle, reminding fans that players are not immune to emotional strain simply because of their profession. 

“In the end, as you can see, a person is a person like anyone else, and everything affects you. Because you are not just a footballer.”

Varela further described how personal life and professional responsibility often collide at the highest level. 

He illustrated the mental burden players carry when stepping onto the biggest stages. 

“You have a life, you have a father, you have a mother, you have a brother, and they all have their own problems too. 

“Then you have to go out on the pitch to face Paris Saint-Germain, for example, and forget everything that happened before that, and then you make a mistake, and 200 million people criticise you.”

There must be a limit

According to Varela, it is entirely possible that a series of events pushed Araujo to his limit.

“Perhaps there were several recurring moments that Rona went through during those two months, and he reached a breaking point, which may be normal due to the pressure that is experienced daily in football.”

Looking ahead, Varela stressed that recovery, not speed, should be the priority. 

He concluded with a message of reassurance and respect for Araujo’s character, saying, 

“The important thing now is for him to take the time he needs to relax, clear his mind, and then return to the field.

“Because, frankly, we know who he is, we know him as a professional and as a person, and it is also important to tell him that we want him to come back as soon as possible, but after he calms down and takes the time he needs.”

Source: El Espectador Deportes