Federico Valverde is a key figure for Real Madrid this season and has been delivering exceptional performances since joining the team in 2018. The Uruguayan midfielder has gained significant influence in the Real Madrid locker room and holds considerable respect from the club’s president, Florentino Pérez.
According to the Spanish newspaper Defensa Central, Valverde has a strong bond with Barcelona defender Ronald Araújo. Although Real Madrid expressed interest in Araújo before his transfer to Barcelona, they did not take concrete steps to acquire him at that time.
Araújo’s contract with Barcelona runs until June 30, 2026, and with him being only 25 years old, he is a highly attractive prospect for many clubs. However, Barcelona is demanding over 100 million euros for his transfer, which might be a considerable amount for some clubs. The report further notes that Valverde has suggested to Real Madrid that they should consider signing Araújo, which could represent a significant defensive upgrade for the team.
Araújo’s injury during the Copa America, which sidelined him for several months, made clubs cautious about pursuing him during the last summer transfer window. As a result, if Araújo decides to renew his contract with Barcelona, the summer of 2025 might be the final opportunity for the club to secure a substantial return on his transfer before his contract expires.
Conversely, the high transfer fee could deter clubs interested in acquiring Araújo, as they might choose to wait until 2026 to sign him as a free agent, which would give them better leverage in negotiations. Barcelona is likely keen to avoid selling Araújo to Real Madrid, preferring to transfer him to any other team rather than their historic rivals.
As a result, Real Madrid’s prospects of signing Araújo might be restricted, and they may need to wait until he becomes a free agent in 2026, a scenario that is not typical for players.
