By Gill Clark. Published Feb 10, 2026, 8:30 PM UTC. Barcelona centre-back Ronald Araujo has opened up about mental health struggles that led him to take time away from the club earlier this season. The break followed his sending-off in Barcelona's Champions League defeat at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea.
Araujo said that the immediate reaction on the pitch was driven by an adrenaline spike, but once the match ended he experienced a heavy emotional crash. He admitted that he had been feeling unwell for some time and, despite continuing out of habit, realized he needed professional help. The defender revealed he had been coping with anxiety for around a year and a half, which developed into depression and affected his performances.
He explained that the sending-off was a turning point when he understood the extent of his condition and reached out to both mental health professionals and the club to get support. During his time away from Barcelona he travelled to Israel seeking spiritual guidance as part of his recovery process.
According to Araujo, the break allowed him to work through issues with specialists, rely on his family and focus on spiritual matters, all of which he views as necessary for his improvement. He says these steps have left him calmer and happier, and able to enjoy playing football again.
Since returning to action, Araujo scored his first goal after the comeback in Barcelona's Copa del Rey victory over Albacete on February 3, 2026. He emphasized that admitting the problem and seeking help were crucial to his recovery and his ability to rejoin the team.
