Uruguay have an agreement in place with Barcelona regarding the fitness of key defender Ronald Araujo, who had been expected to miss the World Cup after opting to undergo surgery on a thigh injury as recently as September.
Araujo, who was forced to defend the decision to have surgery, wasn’t likely to be fit in time to go to Qatar with his national team. But he was then named in Uruguay’s squad despite not even making it back onto the bench for Barça since before going under the knife.
The 23-year-old has only been a regular international since 2021 and has played primarily at right-back for his country this calendar year. He wasn’t fit enough to play any part against South Korea on Thursday, with Martin Caceres getting the not instead.
“We have a very good dialogue with Barcelona, we have an agreement with Barcelona, we have respected it and the player continues to evolve,” coach Diego Alonso has revealed.
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The Uruguay boss added that ‘we have not received this communication’ from Barcelona that the agreed upon recovery process can stop.
Uruguay were unable to find a way through against South Korea, taking just a point following the 0-0 draw. Diego Godin impressed at the back, while Luis Suarez struggled up front. Edinson Cavani came off the bench and Darwin Nunez also did quite well.
The two-time World Cup champions are back in action on Monday when they face Portugal in what is arguably now a must-win game in a competitive Group H.
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