How Man Utd failed with 'astronomical' offer for Barcelona star
Suraj Radia
- 7 Dec 2023 10:00 CST
- 3 min read
Manchester United presented an ‘astronomical’ offer to Ronald Araujo before the Barcelona defender signed a new contract last year, reports in Spain have claimed.
Araujo has been a standout performer in Barca’s defence since making his debut in 2019, having joined the club for €4.7 million the previous year.
The 24-year-old has proven integral to Xavi and was rewarded for his development with a new deal in April last year, becoming the latest Barca star to have a €1 billion release clause inserted into his contract.
However, Araujo was required to make ‘financial concessions’ to sign his deal, according to SPORT, who also state that he had also received an ‘astronomical and firm’ offer from United to become the ‘leader of their defence’.
Araujo reportedly turned down the offer months before signing his new deal to continue at Barcelona, having ordered his agents ‘not to listen to anyone’ who would have prevented him from extending at the Catalan side.
The Uruguayan’s attitude is said to still be the same despite United still maintaining an interest, along with Bayern Munich, with Araujo keen to remain at Barca and ‘mark a stage as one of the great defenders in history’.
Araujo and United’s ‘open heart surgery’ plans
The timeline of Araujo turning down United would suggest the Premier League side made an offer during Ralf Rangnick’s interim spell at the club in the second half of last season.
The German manager had suggested United needed ‘open heart surgery’ to change their fortunes and the alleged targeting of one of Europe’s elite defenders in Araujo was perhaps an attempt to push towards a rebuild.
United conceded 57 goals in the Premier League during the 2021/22 season, more than all but one team in the top half of the table, prompting Rangnick’s successor in Erik ten Hag to spend €55m on centre-back Lisandro Martinez as one of his first major signings in charge.
Ten Hag’s side are still believed to be in the market for a centre-back in Araujo’s mould but, with the Barca man uninterested in a move, United will keep searching for alternatives after missing out on one of their top targets.
