Barcelona captain Ronald Araujo is scheduled to start pre-season training on July 20, a week after the rest of the squad began preparations.
The Uruguayan defender was granted extended leave following his participation in the FIFA World Cup, a common protocol for players involved in the tournament. He visited the club on July 13 only for medical checks on his calf injury, which prevented him from playing any minutes at the World Cup.
Manager Hansi Flick began the season with players not involved in international duties focusing heavily on physical conditioning. Araujo’s delayed return allows him to reintegrate ahead of the intensive training camp in England starting July 27.
Despite persistent transfer rumors, Ronald remains fully committed to Barcelona’s project and has no plans to leave. He is expected to miss the first closed-door friendly against CE Europa on July 24 but could feature in the subsequent match against Birmingham City on July 31.
Araujo continues to play a key role in Barcelona's defense, and his timely comeback is crucial for the team’s plans in the 2026/27 season.
