Manchester United target Ronald Araujo backed to be ‘great’ for 10 to 15 years by Gerard Pique

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Manchester United have been strongly linked with a move for Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo in recent weeks.

Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo reported this week United are ‘pushing hard’ for the Uruguayan centre-back.

An international teammate of Edinson Cavani, Araujo came through Barcelona’s academy and key to the rumours; his contract is set to expire in June 2023.

He has the backing of Rio Ferdinand who this week told Vibe with Five that Araujo is one of two centre-backs he wants to see at United, along with PSG’s Marquinhos.

Another of Cristiano Ronaldo and Ferdinand’s former Manchester United teammates, from back in 2008, Gerard Pique, is a big fan of Araujo, and the respect is mutual.

Could be great

Pique told Barcelona’s website he believes Araujo could be one of the top players over the next decade, or even longer.

Speaking about the 23-year-old earlier this year, Pique claimed: “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 during his time in Segunda B with the youth team he matured, and now with the first team he has taken the opportunity. We need to help him to be the best player possible.”

The respect is shared, with Araujo admitting he has tried to model his game and professionalism on the example set by Pique, who is now 35.

Araujo was quoted by AS: “His experience has always been one thing that I have looked at since I arrived and more now that I share a dressing room with him. I like to look at the characteristics of each player but from Gerard I like to look at how he plays with the ball, which is something that I felt was missing from my play, and also that he is a defender who is not very fast but is always well positioned.

“I pay attention to that a lot. Every day I try to get a little information out of him in every game and in every training session.”

For Barcelona, losing Araujo would be a major blow, considering Pique’s age, but the lack of agreement over a contract keeps the situation open.

Araujo missed time with an injury twice for Barcelona last season which has made them nervous about meeting his demands, leaving Barcelona nervous – but this season he has featured in 21 out of 27 La Liga games.

United supporters will be wary that the club’s name is being mentioned as a prelude to a Barcelona contract extension, and that is always the risk. But these concerns were proved unfounded last summer as Raphael Varane made the move to Old Trafford from Real Madrid.