Araújo only earns 900,000 euros

Ronald Araújo's salary is less than 900,000 euros, an unusually low figure for a player with his market value (35 million euros) and much less than what the other central defenders in Barcelona's first team squad (Lenglet and Umtiti, for example) earn. Araújo's wages is a stumbling block in the club's plans to renew the player's contract - an operation which will be anything but simple. Apart from Real Madrid's interest in signing the player, a number of Premier League clubs are keen on him. He has all the skills necessary to do well in England - he's brave, strong, good in the air and confident conducting the ball out of defence. He has also progressed as player since Barcelona signed him in the summer of 2018.

Plans to renew Araújo's contract and give him a pay rise had fallen by the wayside and now it's a matter of urgency for Barça. The player is represented by Excellence Sports (Edoardo Crnjar and Venezuelan businessman Edmundo Kabchi brought him to Barça), while Flavio Perchman, whose job is to deal with the media, stated on Friday, "Araújo is very happy and wants to continue at Barcelona". Perchman also added that there is no cerdibility in Madrid's reported interest.

Mateu Alemany will have a job on his hands sorting the deal out because Araújo knows that he is facing the first big contract of his career - one which will guarantee stability for the next few years. He is keen to stay at Barça, but hopes that the club will agree to pay him a salary in line with what he is worth and as a reward for his commitment.

Araújo wants to be earning something similar to the squad's other centre-backs who earn substantially more than he does while contributing a lot less. Lenglet and Umtiti are examples of those who have a larger salary but whose roles in the side have dwindled over the past couple of seasons.Several outlets are reporting that Araújo's agents are expected to arrive in Barcelona next week, but it doesn't look likely that negotiations will be concluded any time soon - expecially at this point when the salary cap is at its limit. But renewing Araújo's contract is now top of Barça's list of priorities between now and the summer, before the player enters the final 12 months of his current deal.