Barcelona sporting director Deco was pleased to see Ronald Araujo playing well for Liverpool against Atletico Madrid, with the Reds holding the option to sign him permanently
Ronald Araujo looks on for Liverpool against Atletico Madrid
Ronald Araujo impressed for Liverpool against Atletico Madrid(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
Ronald Araujo has earned rave reviews for his early performances on loan at Liverpool from Barcelona, starting the last two fixtures at right-back ahead of Jeremie Frimpong.
Against Ipswich, Araujo offered a platform for the likes of Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo to flourish. He then repeated the trick against familiar opposition in Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday, putting in another solid showing for Andoni Iraola alongside Virgil van Dijk and Jeremy Jacquet.
"I love Ronald! I’m very fond of him, and I loved to see him doing well yesterday," Deco is quoted by Fabrizio Romano as saying on the Spanish radio station RAC1.
"I want him to succeed. At times, he hasn’t been able to perform at his best, but his time at Barca has been spectacular. He has a contract with us, and it’s still early days."
Liverpool has the option to buy Araujo permanently for around $63 million (£47 million) next summer, by which time he will be 28.
So while he is under contract at Barcelona still, the Catalan side does not hold all the cards when it comes to working out what his best next move might be.
Barcelona sporting director Deco and Liverpool loanee Ronald Araujo
Barcelona sporting director Deco and Liverpool loanee Ronald Araujo(Image: RAC 1 and Getty Images)
"I think he's been very, very good," Iraola said in his post-match press conference. "The other day [against Ipswich] and he has been, I would say, even better today.
"I think he's defending really well his side, but also sometimes because he's a center-back, we underrate his offensive side. Today, he gives a great assist to Dom Szoboszlai.
"He's made a couple of very good serves from his position, and I'm very happy with him. Very happy.
"He's come with the willingness to show that he belongs to this level, and I hope we can keep him there because he's in a lovely place."
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Liverpool.com says: Araujo has made a really strong start at right-back, and he should keep his place there for the foreseeable future. At some point, he will be needed in the center, but that can wait.
In terms of the longer term, Araujo still has a lot to do to justify the buying option. For now, a loan gives him the chance to continue impressing, and we will see where it ends up.
It was essential for Liverpool to get extra cover for Conor Bradley, and Araujo has already proven the decision to sign him in a low-risk, sensible deal was right.