A few days ago, according to Spain's "Fichajes" report, Manchester City is trying to poach the old owner Barcelona in the summer 22-year-old Uruguayan centre-back Ronald Araujo, Guardiola and his agent Edmundo Kabić have been contacted, he is ready to take advantage of Araujo and Barca's contract extension has not yet been finalized moment to take advantage of the contract year to seize the Uruguayan international center-back valued at 35 million euros.
Araujo's contract is one of the most urgent issues for Barca to solve now, in the summer of 2018, at the age of 19, Araujo joined Barca's B team from Boston River Plate in Uruguay, and two years later he was promoted to Barca first team, and took advantage of the opportunity that Umtiti has been stuck in the quagmire of injuries since the World Cup to obtain Barca's starting position. Today, the young Uruguayan international has become the most trusted player in Barca's defence.
However, Araujo's contract was renewed when he was promoted to Barca's first team in the summer of 2020, and when it expires in 2023, Araujo's current annual salary is only 900,000 euros, watching substitutes Langley and Umtiti get an annual salary of 6 million euros (Umtiti still renewed and reduced his salary), so Araujo, who has become the main player, asks Barca to get this level of salary, saying that he is now nearly 7 times his salary. But now Barca can only give him a salary of 3 million euros, and the gap between the two sides in terms of salary is quite large, so Araujo's contract extension has not progressed.
At this time, guardiola and Araujo agent Kabić's meeting made Barca very vigilant, Guardiola's enthusiasm for the center back is almost incomprehensible to the rest of the coaches, where there is a good defender, there is a figure of Guardiola, but Barca also know that it is impossible to stop Manchester City, after all, Araujo's contract expires in 2023, so this summer he will enter the contract year, barca if it can not complete the renewal, the probability can only endure the sale, otherwise next year he can also transfer freely.
Of course, Manchester City now need courage to give Araujo this contract, and the annual salary of 6 million after tax in Spain is converted into the algorithm of Premier League habits, which is equivalent to a weekly salary of 200,000 pounds (the Premier League weekly salary is pre-tax). At Manchester City, with the exception of Stones, Grerish, Sterling and De Bruyne, the rest of the players have not reached this level, and if the newcomer Araaujo gets this salary, with his performance at Barca, he may not be able to convince the public.
But for Guardiola these issues did not stop his interest in Araujo, otherwise he would not have to contact Araujo's agent. Araujo's valuation is currently 35 million euros, and considering that he enters the contract year in the summer, there will be little no need to raise the price when he gets him, which is another reason why City are interested in Araujo.