Araujo Is Not Ready. It’s a Private Matter” – Flick Shields Defender as Barcelona Prepare for Atletico
Hansi Flick drew a clear boundary around Ronald Araujo’s absence while urging focus ahead of Barcelona’s accelerated league meeting with Atletico Madrid, insisting the defender is unavailable for personal reasons and offering no further detail.
The fixture was brought forward due to January’s Spanish Super Cup, adding pressure to an already condensed schedule. Speaking before Tuesday’s match, Flick underscored the challenge awaiting his squad, describing Atletico as one of Europe’s most complete sides and acknowledging the demanding landscape at the top of La Liga’s table.
Barcelona’s injury fluctuations have shaped Flick’s early months, and the coach welcomed the gradual return of key players. But the dominant storyline was Araujo, who will not feature. Flick confirmed the Uruguay international is absent but stopped short of any disclosure. “Ronald Araujo is not ready,” he said. “It is a private situation, and I don’t want to say more. I would ask you to respect that.”
The silence invites speculation, but Flick’s firmness suggested a non-negotiable line. With the club already thin in defense, the question becomes how long Barcelona can absorb Araujo’s absence without compromising stability.
Raphinha’s fitness also drew attention. The Brazilian participated only in the rondo, but Flick maintained cautious optimism: “I am confident that he can play the whole match.” Marc-André ter Stegen, meanwhile, has rejoined group training but remains sidelined. “It is not the moment for his return,” Flick said, noting the goalkeeper still needs time before full match readiness.
The press conference also revisited the viral images of Flick speaking animatedly with Raphinha after the win over Alaves. The coach dismissed any insinuation of tension, framing it instead as an emotional moment shaped by the game’s events, including Marcus Rashford’s red card. “He is my friend and is the most important person I have here,” Flick said of Rashford. The exchange with Raphinha, he implied, was a brief discussion in the heat of competition rather than a flashpoint.
Flick addressed the broader trajectory of his team, particularly lapses in control. “We made too many mistakes,” he said of recent performances. With several players only now returning to fitness, Barcelona have struggled to build rhythm. Flick acknowledged the disruption but avoided leaning on it as justification. “We have never hidden behind such excuses,” he said. “We need more minutes with the starting eleven.”
Despite the uneven form, the German reiterated his ambition heading into Madrid. Pedri, he suggested, could enter the starting lineup, offering much-needed stability in midfield. To beat Atletico, Flick argued, Barcelona must rediscover their technical precision and collective discipline. “We have to play at the highest level against a team like that,” he said. “I think they are one of the best teams in Europe.”
Flick reserved particular praise for goalkeeper Joan García, whose emergence has been one of the squad’s most significant developments. “Joan García has a great future,” he said, placing the young keeper in lofty company. Having coached both Manuel Neuer and Marc-André ter Stegen, Flick’s endorsement carries weight. García’s footwork, reaction speed and shot-stopping have made him a foundational piece of Barcelona’s medium-term planning. “Signing him was the right decision,” Flick added.
The throughline of the session was clarity: Barcelona recognize the stakes, understand their shortcomings and are bracing for one of the season’s defining matches without some of their most influential players. With Araujo unavailable, ter Stegen not yet cleared and key attackers searching for rhythm, Flick’s side must produce a performance that restores belief in their upward trajectory.
A win against Atletico would accelerate that process. A loss would deepen questions that are beginning to surface around consistency, depth and the demands of competing on multiple fronts.