New Liverpool defender Ronald Araujo has revealed the emotional reason behind his chosen shirt number after arriving on a season-long loan from Barcelona earlier this week
Ronald Araujo is interviewed as a new Liverpool player.
Ronald Araujo is interviewed as a new Liverpool player.(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Ronald Araujo has revealed the emotional reason behind his decision to wear the number 33 at Liverpool after he arrived on a season-long loan from Barcelona.
Liverpool can make the transfer permanent next summer for a fee of around $63 million (£47 million), with Araujo arriving to provide cover in the absence of several players through injury.
Joe Gomez is out until at least the start of next month, while Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni are yet to feature in pre-season. Araujo can also fill in at right-back, with Conor Bradley still sidelined at the moment and Jeremie Frimpong yet to fully convince.
Araujo wore the number four at Barcelona, but that is of course taken by Virgil van Dijk at Liverpool. Instead, he has taken 33, which was last used by Jordon Ibe at Anfield.
"It’s a number that I like and a number that is special to me," Araujo said. "Funnily enough, way back when I made my debut as a professional, that was the number I was wearing back then.
"But it has a personal meaning for me as well, it has a meaning which is all to do with my faith and my relationship with Jesus and God and religion.
Ronald Araujo signs his Liverpool contract
Ronald Araujo signs his Liverpool contract(Image: (Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images))
"It’s a subject I spoke about and had a good conversation about with my friends, my family, my partner and my parents. It’s a number I’m very pleased on a number of levels to be wearing."
Araujo could make his Liverpool debut against Como next Sunday. He has taken part in Barcelona's pre-season training, so arrives with a decent level of fitness.
Speaking to club media, Araujo added: "I can't wait to get started. I'm very, very happy.
"I'm excited to be here at this massive club with lots of history. I'm excited to meet my teammates, excited to get started playing, and I'm very motivated and really up for getting going.
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"I think it was the ideal move for me at this stage in my career. I think it was a move that was necessary for me to take. As soon as I heard that interest from Liverpool, everything went into action really, really quickly.
"As I say, I’m super-happy to be here and excited to get started. I’m glad about the interest and it was the right move at the right time."
Liverpool.com says: As a short-term addition with the option of it becoming something more in the future, the transfer move makes perfect sense. He can cover the areas that the Reds are very short in at the back, and has lots of experience too.
Now, Liverpool just needs to get more attackers in, with Bradley Barcola a target and Ibrahim Mbaye under consideration as well.