Barcelona want Ronald Araujo to keep Marcus Rashford quiet when Manchester United travel to the Camp Nou on Thursday.
That is according to Spanish outlet AS, who claim that Araujo is the man Xavi tends to turn to to nullify big-name dangermen.
They say that Vinicius Jr did not get much change out of Araujo and that Barcelona hope the defender can repeat the trick on Rashford.
United face Barcelona in Spain this week, before the return leg of their Europa League play-off the following week at Old Trafford.
Barcelona want Araujo to keep Rashford quiet
They say that Araujo will not necessarily completely change his position to stop Rashford, but he is not a stranger to man-marking assignments.
The report says that the key for Barca is stopping Rashford getting the ball with space to run into, wherever on the pitch he gets the ball.
Rashford was moved to the right in some recent games to account for Antony’s absence, and the Brazilian may well miss this game through injury too.
He has also moved into the centre in the second half of matches lately, when Erik ten Hag brings on a winger such as Alejandro Garnacho or Jadon Sancho to change the shape of the game.
Araujo was linked with United in 2022, when Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo reported United ‘pushing hard’ for the Uruguayan centre-back.
At that time, Rio Ferdinand told Vibe with Five that Araujo is one of two centre-backs he wanted to see at United, along with PSG’s Marquinhos.
Another former United central defender in the shape of Gerard Pique told Barcelona’s website: “Araujo is a great centre-back, and will be for 10 or 15 years. He has everything.
“He is very young and has a very good head. Also, he is physically strong, fast and powerful, and has good ball control. La Masia is working very well and now with the first team he has taken the opportunity.”
Rashford has been getting the better of plenty of top players lately and he will hope Araujo to be the next one he dominates against.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
