08 Aug 2026 13:25:42
I've been pretty comfortable with the Araujo signing from the off.
Experience ✅✅
Age range ✅
Physicality ✅
Quick ✅
We're paying a proportion of his salary for a year, that's all we're committed to. Gives Leoni, Jacquet and Bradley time and space to recover and adapt to a new coach and a new league and it gives Iraola time to assess their capabilities.
Best case scenario : we've signed an experienced world class versatile defender at his peak.
Worse case scenario - we've just burnt 12m in wages.
08 Aug 2026 14:15:15
I'm with you, Ron.
And if we are paying a portion of his wages, the downside is probably less than £12m.
A few characters are popping out the emojis and continuing the narrative from FIFA.
Having an experienced player available on loan is, in my view, a good thing.
Now we just need to dovetail his and JoGo's time injured!
08 Aug 2026 14:29:01
Ron, totally agree.
08 Aug 2026 15:57:51
Romano has reported that we're paying his full wages so that's about 1mil a month. Still nothing compared to the truly absurd fees we've seen thrown about this summer. And the option to buy is set at apparently 55m euros, so if he does well, that is quite a reasonable price for us to buy him at too.
08 Aug 2026 16:14:08
Agree with all the comments here. Araujo has question marks, and those are legitimate. That does not remove from the immense ability he possesses. There is no question.
All we have to do is to try to help Jim rediscover his former self physically and mentally in a new environment with a manager that actually wants him and a fan base that, regardless of our differing opinions on him, all want him to do well.
At least, I would think so.
I'm excited to see him play, and if we get to keep him then, that would mean he has held his part of the bargain.
08 Aug 2026 16:20:48
Even more excited to see Jim play.
Is it Beglin?
08 Aug 2026 16:53:31
Jim Araujo - someone will be having that username by next week. ?