FC Barcelona has granted captain Ronald Araújo an indefinite leave of absence. The leave comes after a request by the defender to step away from football due to an ongoing personal issue.
Araújo was notably absent from the squad that defeated Alavés 3-1 on Saturday. The club attributed his absence to a “stomach virus”. His last appearance had come in the Champions League, where he was sent off just before halftime against Chelsea FC.
Head coach Hansi Flick described the situation as “private” and asked for respect for the player’s privacy.
The absence of the 28-year-old centre-back, a defensive pillar for the club, comes at a critical time. Barça are preparing for a La Liga clash against Atlético Madrid on Tuesday night.
Club president Joan Laporta has asked for supporters’ understanding. He said that criticism of the defender following the Chelsea match had been unfair and reiterated the club’s backing during this difficult period.
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