- Ronald Araujo is almost ready to return to action for Barcelona
- Vice-captain has been sidelined since July after hamstring surgery
- Hansi Flick said the defender looks 'very good' in training
Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo is "really close" to making his return to action from long-term injury, having missed all of 2024/25 so far with a hamstring problem.
The commanding defender was last seen in action for Uruguay in their Copa America quarter-final against Brazil, suffering a torn hamstring tendon in his right leg. After undergoing surgery in July, he reported for duty back at Barcelona's training centre to continue his rehabilitation two months later.
Araujo has been stepping up his workload in recent weeks and, on Sunday, was present at full training with the rest of the Barcelona squad for the first time.
Hansi Flick has been reluctant to confirm a specific return date for the vice-captain's comeback, but the coach appears optimistic it won't be long.
"Ronald is doing really well," Flick told reporters on Monday
"He's on a really good level and he's very close. I cannot say it’s the next match, or maybe next week, I don't want to do that because he has to have a good feeling. [But] it looks really good in training."
Even at the age of just 25, Araujo will bring some much-needed experience back to a raw Barcelona team. After a surprisingly strong to the season, Flick’s side has lost its way, failing to win any of the last three La Liga games - including a first home league defeat by Las Palmas in 53 years.
In Saturday's clash with the islanders, Robert Lewandowski (36) and Inigo Martinez (33) were the only Barca players on the pitch over the age of 27. In the matchday day squad, there were five teenagers alone, while more than half the starting XI was aged 22 or younger.
Ironically, it is a teenager they seem to have missed the most. Lamine Yamal's return off the bench following a recent ankle injury wasn't enough to inspire Barcelona to victory this time. The Catalans have won all 11 of the league fixtures he's started this season and are yet to win a game without the 17-year-old.
