Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has said goodbye to captain Ronald Araujo as the Uruguayan defender jets into Merseyside to undergo a medical ahead of completing a season-long loan move to Liverpool
Hansi Flick celebrates with Ronald Araujo
Hansi Flick celebrates with Ronald Araujo(Image: David Ramos/Getty Images)
Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has addressed the impending exit of his captain Ronald Araujo to Liverpool.
The Reds have reached an agreement to bring in the Uruguay international on a season-long loan from the La Liga champions, after new manager Andoni Iraola found himself with just one fully fit senior centre-back and right-back a mere fortnight before the Premier League campaign gets under way.
Araujo is capable of filling both of those positions and is flying into Merseyside on Sunday to complete a medical with Liverpool ahead of finalizing the surprise move.
The 27 year old has spent the last eight years at Barcelona, racking up 213 appearances and netting 14 goals, and was handed the captaincy in January following the loan exit of Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
However, he managed just 16 starts last season and stepped away from the game for mental health reasons after coming in for fierce criticism following his sending off during the Champions League defeat to Chelsea in November.
Araujo returned in January and lifted the La Liga title in May after Barcelona defeated bitter rivals Real Madrid 2-0 at the Camp Nou to clinch top spot.
Yet Flick is prepared to let his skipper depart, and speaking after his side's friendly fixtures against Nottingham Forest and Udinese, said: "I think Ronald is a great guy and a fantastic player.
"I think our style of play, that we want to play, is a little bit different. He's a player that has a lot of speed, he's physical and very strong and also with the ball he's quite good.
"We couldn't include him like I wanted and also I think he wants to make something new. You know it more than me because in the past, something has happened, so this affected him.
"I saw him this morning and I said goodbye and I think he was very happy and Liverpool is also a fantastic club. I wish him all the best because he deserves it. He's a fantastic guy and fantastic player and was a great captain."
Ronald Araujo is heading for Liverpool
Ronald Araujo is heading for Liverpool(Image: Ryan Pierse - FIFA, FIFA via Getty Images)
It is understood the season-long loan features a $55M (£47m) option for Liverpool to purchase rather than an obligation.
The Reds are grappling with several defensive absences as they continue preparations for their Premier League curtain-raiser at Newcastle United on 23rd August.
At center-half, Joe Gomez faces several weeks out with a muscle problem sustained in the friendly against Sunderland; new arrival Jeremy Jacquet is yet to appear as he regains fitness following shoulder surgery; Giovanni Leoni remains unavailable after suffering an ACL injury last September, and teenager Ifeanyi Ndukwe is ineligible.
At right-back, Conor Bradley has been absent since January following a serious knee injury, while Jeremie Frimpong has encountered numerous fitness complications since his move from Bayer Leverkusen last summer.