Ronald Araujo reflects on adapting at Barcelona: “I consider myself part of La Masia”

From being an aspiring striker at a young age, Ronald Araujo has become one of the key defensive components for a Barcelona side currently leading the league table in Spain.

During an interview with The Guardian, Araujo talked about his life before Barcelona and his journey to adapting to life in the city.

Formerly of Boston River in his native Uruguay, Araujo had been a part of the Barcelona side since 2018, joining the B squad in a deal worth €4.7 million.

“Barcelona was a leap, adapting to the city. For the first eight months, I lived near the training ground, then I went up the mountainside to Pallejà, with pine forests.

“Leave the house and you’re in the mountains, an escape. But when I got in the first team travelling every three days, I came back down the hill,” he added.

Araujo revealed his ambition of becoming a striker. “I never imagined being a defender,” said the Uruguayan, whose desires shifted when he reached Montevideo at the age of 17, with his idol turning from Ronaldinho to Carles Puyol.

Araujo talked about his background and exposure to Uruguayan football, which does not cater for the idea of playing out the back. “In Uruguay, it’s more direct. It has evolved a bit but the goalkeeper would boot the ball up or, if not, pass it to us and we would boot it. Bringing the ball out didn’t exist,” he said.

Araujo even credited Uruguayan football for his development, citing his aggression and the compulsion to speak more during games.

“I’m always talking. From the start, all the time. ‘Right, left, hold, drop…’ We had Leo [Messi] and everyone then but no one said: this guy talks too much. I could see it was ok, that it helped the team.

“I learned loads from Uruguayan football: character, leadership. And the most important thing for a defender is to defend. That’s what we’re there for. Keep a clean sheet, protect the goal,” he said.

But he said moving to Europe made him change his game style, adding, “We didn’t really work tactically. You defend, that’s it. In Europe, they ask other things of you. I had to change a lot.

The 23-year-old revealed his struggles in adapting to Barcelona’s style of play, saying: “The ball: it flew. The first few sessions, there would be 20 in a small space and I would touch it three times and lose it three times.”

“There were guys there who had been doing this since they were eight. I came from another football. To go to Barcelona, which is different in its philosophy even to many in Europe, was difficult. But I got to work. I said to myself: I have to play here,” he added.

Araujo considers himself a part of La Masia

Araujo played for the Barcelona B squad for two years, featuring in 44 competitive matches before formally becoming a part of the senior side. The defender says not giving him up was the key behind his success.

“I never had that idea that said: ‘it’s Barcelona, it’s too hard’; I said to myself: ‘I’m going to play.’ Some lads had minutes in the first team and I thought: ‘I want that’, ‘I want to go on pre-season.’ I said: ‘I’m going to play in the B team, prove myself, get my first-team chance. Thankfully, that’s what happened,” he said.

Even though he was not part of the club’s academy per se, the defender is counted as a graduate of the La Masia setup, although it is not viewed the same in Uruguay. Talking about it, he said:

“There’s this thing in Uruguay: ‘No, he’s not made in La Masia…’, but I consider myself part of it. I wasn’t there for as long as others but Barcelona B changed me. I learned the philosophy. I would have breakfast and lunch in the Masia, spend time with them there, and that helped me a lot.”

Talking about his performances this season, Araujo said he is focusing on avoiding injuries. “This season I’m focusing on physical preparation to avoid injuries. I’m a bit of a ‘hard head’, stubborn, and I would keep going until I broke down. I have to be more careful,” he said.

“I also have to keep growing technically and tactically. Sometimes being well positioned, as we are now, you avoid a run. We get a lot of offsides now because we’re better positioned,” he added.

Araujo went on to praise Xavi Hernandez and credited the Barcelona coach for improving his ball-playing abilities.

“Xavi changed the group and I learned the philosophy, which had been lost a bit in the last few years. He guides me, we watch videos, and above all it’s confidence. He knows which qualities I have, but also trusts that I can play – and now we’re seeing that bear fruit. I feel very comfortable with the ball,” he said.

Araujo made his professional debut for Barcelona in 2019, in a game against Sevilla. But it was a nightmare appearance for the defender as he was sent off just 14 minutes after coming on.

But since then, the Uruguayan has picked himself up extremely well and has featured in 99 competitive matches. He is set to feature in his 100th game for Barcelona this midweek when the Catalans take on Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League.