Ronald Araujo Agrees to New Contract with FC Barcelona Until 2026

Ronald Araujo is a new Billion Dollar Man

The 23-year-old Uruguayan professional footballer and FC Barcelona defender has agreed a new contract until 2026 with his release clause rising to €1 billion ($1.16bn), the club have announced.

Ronald Araujo Araujo’s previous deal was due to expire in 2023 and ESPN revealed last month that Manchester United and Liverpool were both keen on signing the Uruguay international.

The money on the table from the Premier League sides was higher than Barca‘s offer, but sources have told ESPN that the player’s priority was always to remain at Camp Nou.

Araujo has been on the same terms at Barca since 2018, when he first joined the club’s B team from Boston River in his homeland in a deal worth an initial €2 million.

That made him one of the lowest-paid players in the first team going into the current campaign, with his agents keen for his salary to rise according to his new status at the club.

Under coach Xavi Hernandez he has emerged as a key player this season, making 39 appearances in all competitions and scoring four goals, including one in the 4-0 Clasico win over Real Madrid at the Bernabeu Stadium.

With Barca having to adhere to LaLiga‘s strict financial rules due to their financial problems, they have played hardball during negotiations with Araujo’s camp.

However, sources told ESPN earlier this month there had finally been a breakthrough in talks, with Barca upping their initial offer and Araujo willing to meet the club in the middle despite the offers from English clubs.

Nadal & Djokovic Aiming to Break Another World Record…

Move over Cristiano Ronaldo! Rafael Nadal is headed to Real Madrid’s soccer stadium… But don’t worry; he’s not planning to bend it like Beckham!

The 25-year-old Spanish tennis star, currently ranked No. 2 in the world, will go head-to-head against World No. 1 player Novak Djokovic in an exhibition match at Real Madrid’s Bernabeu Stadium on July 14. The Spanish football club’s pitch will be transformed into a tennis court, with the event taking place in the gap between Wimbledon and the London Olympics.

Rafael Nadal & Novak Djokovic

The reason: Well, Nadal and Djokovic—who currently have the record for the longest final in grand slam history—are hoping to attract 80,000 attendees in their ambitious quest to rewrite another record.

The showdown is the result of a partnership between two charities, the Real Madrid Foundation and the Rafa Nadal Foundation, and aims to raise money for disadvantaged children.

Djokovic and Spaniard Nadal made history at the Australian Open in January, when the Serb won his fifth grand slam title in a five-set epic match lasting almost six hours.

Now they hope to shatter the record for the largest turnout at an exhibition match — set in July 2010 when 35,681 people watched Kim Clijsters beat fellow former world No. 1 Serena Williams in Brussels.

Nadal, a Real Madrid supporter who tries to attend as many matches as possible, said he was thrilled to be taking part in the historic event.

“Back to practicing, very happy because the Rafa Nadal Foundation’s event has been confirmed at Bernabeu!” he announced on his Facebook page.

Nadal and Djokovic have won a combined 15 majors and have had one of the sport’s top rivalries of late. Djokovic has defeated Nadal in the last seven finals they’ve played, including in the last three Grand Slam tournaments—Wimbledon, U.S. Open and Australian Open.