Former Liverpool striker showed love to incoming Reds loan signing Ronald Araujo ahead of the Barcelona captain's move to Anfield with a heartwarming post on social media
Ronald Araujo and Darwin Nunez have played together for Uruguay since 2020
Ronald Araujo and Darwin Nunez have played together for Uruguay since 2020(Image: Getty Images)
Central defender Ronald Araujo is set to become the fourth Uruguayan international to feature for Liverpool after the 27-year-old secured a loan move from Barcelona for the 2026/27 season.
The most recent Uruguayan to suit up for the Reds was striker Darwin Nunez, a mercurial talent drafted in by former coach Jurgen Klopp to lead his attack in 2022. Nunez lasted three years with the club before he was sold to Saudi club Al-Hilal in 2025.
He's been teammates with Araujo on the Uruguayan national team since 2020. Nunez posted a photo of himself with the Barcelona loanee on a Uruguayan team bus, showing both his friendship with Araujo and also that he's still very much keeping tabs on the Reds.
"I wish you the best in this great club, friend Ronald Araujo," the translated tweet reads.
"It deeply gladdens me that you can feel what it is—the affection and support of the [Liverpool], they are special, and they will make you feel it that way, now you are a red more, from afar, always wishing you the best! LET'S GO UP!"
Nunez was listed in numerous reports as a candidate to return to Anfield this summer after a disastrous first season with Al-Hilal that saw him replaced by Karim Benzema midway through the term.
Ronald Araujo and Darwin Nunez at the 2026 World Cup
Ronald Araujo and Darwin Nunez at the 2026 World Cup(Image: Getty Images)
He has 41 caps and 13 goals for Uruguay, including five in a two-game stretch in 2023. Nunez was named to both the 2022 and 2026 World Cup teams, though he didn't score in either tournament.
Araujo missed both the 2022 and 2026 World Cups through injury (he was originally named to both teams).
He was a revelation at Barcelona during his 2021 breakthrough but struggled with both injuries and inconsistent form in the years since, despite being named club captain.
Liverpool's depth at center-back behind Virgil van Dijk is still a major question mark. New signing Jeremy Jacquez is recovering from a long-term injury, Joe Gomez hurt himself in preseason, and Giovanni Leoni is still not fully recovered from an ACL tear.
Enter Araujo, a player with copious Champions League experience who could slot in next to Van Dijk in a pinch on day one. Barcelona coach Hansi Flick wished him well when speaking with reporters on Saturday.
"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," the German manager said.
"We couldn’t include him like I wanted, and also, I think he wants to make something new. You know it more than I because in the past, something 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.”