08 Aug 2026 16:49:12
I don’t get the moaning about Araujo signing when people were happy for Konsa to be signed.
England's defence is probably the worst it’s been in cb and Konsa still can’t guarantee his place.
Am more than happy with getting Araujo on loan with Virgil Gomez and the young cb we have.
Arsenal’s defence will not be as strong this season when they clap down on all the fouls they got away with.
Football can’t carry on like it did last season because people will lose interest.
08 Aug 2026 17:23:53
Grino, we had people wanting Konsa, Stones, Collins, and whinging about not getting Guehi.
Araujo is better than all of them, but they are still not happy.
Guehi and Konsa were both awful in the World Cup, and Guehi has been shocking for City.
He’s a left of a back 3 CB where he doesn’t get exposed so much. Playing in a 2 for City, he’s a weak link.
Araujo is a decent, low risk signing, similar to when Arsenal got Hincapie on loan last season. If he does well, we’ll buy him, if not, we won’t.
08 Aug 2026 17:39:32
Grino, I was never ever happy for Konsa to be signed.
08 Aug 2026 18:06:37
I'm just relieved we won't be signing Djed Spence. Not sure a single person would have bought his name on the shirt. Not even Mrs Spence.
08 Aug 2026 18:12:57
I think the legitimate concern amongst some is that the defending in Premier League and La Liga is very very different.
A player who took time out because he was struggling to adapt to fast highline defending has now come to a team who plays fast highline defending only in a league which is much much faster, much more physical and aggressive. That alone should give him time for adaptation, but he also needs to adapt to new surroundings, new people, new culture, new food, new weather.
This is part of what I do for a living, helping foreign players adapt to new leagues - people drastically underestimate how difficult this is.
In addition to that, he's not coming into a settled team just looking for cover, he's gonna need to go straight into the starting 11 knowing that if he makes mistakes (like Ibou did and Trent did) he will get torched like crazy by the fans - and this was the entire reason he took a mental health break, because fans reacted badly to his mistakes.
So I hope fans are ready to insulate him from any and all criticism, because at least in the first 3 months, he'll need it.
By the time he gets the hang of the team and league (if he does, because again, he took a break because he was struggling with this style of football under Flick), his loan will be finished.
08 Aug 2026 18:28:52
Yeah, because Frimpong shirts have been flying off the shelves.
08 Aug 2026 18:31:55
Nevada, please get your facts right.
Give the lad a chance for God's sake!
I know it's all down to opinions, but show a little bit of faith in Iraola. Araujo is better than many defenders the fan clamour for.
You can't become a captain at Barca by being dross. He is in our colours now, get behind him and I'm sure you lot will eat your words. Btw, I think he's an upgrade on Konate.
08 Aug 2026 18:46:14
I agree, Rios aka Beckers peckers. I also hate it when other posters have a different opinion to me on the internet.
Needs to be stamped out on this open forum.
08 Aug 2026 19:35:38
I'm sure Arteta will spend another £400 million on bricklayers before the end of the window.
08 Aug 2026 19:03:07
Says the guy constantly digging at OliRed for having a different opinion.
08 Aug 2026 19:53:33
Cheers for taking the time to notice, mate. ?
08 Aug 2026 20:42:07
Seen loads of posts on here from people saying how good Araujo is. Can't pretend to have watched an awful lot of him. He seems to be rated as one of Barca's better defenders. Why do people reckon so they've been willing to loan him out?
08 Aug 2026 20:43:56
@Fifth, I know you mean well, but trust me when I tell you this: I propose you just leave this one alone.
Why? It's not worth your time and energy, man. I don't engage for a reason.
I promise, you'll thank me later.
08 Aug 2026 21:00:12
Florian, I think it's well documented that he has struggled recently, maybe he thinks a fresh start will be good for him. Plays well, gets a move for EUR55m at the end of the season. If it doesn't work out, then at least he can say he tried something different. I hope it works for him, he's a decent player.
08 Aug 2026 21:13:31
Florian, Barca have a young first choice CB pairing, and Araujo is on major wages, so that's probably why they felt they could move him on. Probably better to lose Araujo than someone coming in for Kounde and having to make the deal for financial reasons.
I think Barca always sailing close to the wind with finances means they have to make more creative deals.
Or perhaps he told them he wanted a clean break after last season's issues.
Plenty of reasons they could have sanctioned the loan deal (and equally possible we're not getting a good deal and he won't cut it).
08 Aug 2026 20:51:49
I concur with Oli save your time and energy
Just to clarify I don't dig Oli because he has a different opinion. I dig him because he's a condescending plastic.
08 Aug 2026 21:47:11
Woozers, went more-read what Oli said and couldn't find something that deserved that response? Maybe history between ya!?
I think Nevada's points about settling into the country are valid in a general sense as well as the insight about him taking time out.
What is hope for is that at 27, he is at an age and stage to step into the challenge.
Total stereotype here but I looking forward to seeing some Latino kinda fire in our backline.
At his best, Araujo is quick, strong, good in air and ground duels.
Let for us is whether this opportunity away from Barca and in our environment helps him get back to his best. It's hardly like he's a used tyre so the upside is worth it imo especially on loan.
I posted about this point a day or so ago - business-wise it makes sense especially if the move for a permanent player we wanted this window wasn't there.
08 Aug 2026 22:07:18
Didn't want any of Konsa, Stones, Collins, or Guehi. I don't rate Araujo and never have. Rash, indisciplined, injury prone, and has more than his fair share of Konate-style brain farts. This has a distinct whiff of Arthur Melo about it, and much with Melo and Juve, there's a reason Barca are happy to get shot. I remain very sceptical of this deal.
08 Aug 2026 23:52:33
I agree with you, VV. However, the man is here now, and I've already said my piece about it, so I'm leaving it alone now. It's all going to get real in 2 weeks' time.
09 Aug 2026 03:42:38
Isn't defending about stopping the opposition by taking the ball from them? Isn't that a universal concept? Apparently Araujo is very good in one on one situations. I don't see how any defence system doesn't have that goal. Pun intended.
09 Aug 2026 07:54:29
What Nevada has said makes an awful lot of sense to me.
09 Aug 2026 08:07:02
A lot of people seemingly haven't seen him play, definitely haven't seen him play. He was in the top five CBs in the world until recently.