Barcelona star could be released early from international duty | OneFootball

A leading member of the defensive ranks at La Liga giants Barcelona could be afforded an early release from international duty this weekend.

That’s according to Mundo Deportivo, who point towards Ronald Araújo as the player in question.

Stopper Araújo for his part linked up with his fellow countrymen in the Uruguay squad earlier this week.

This comes with a view to a crunch pair of upcoming World Cup qualifiers, first against arch rivals Argentina, and then Bolivia next Tuesday.

Araújo is expected to feature from the off in the former, one of the first names on the team sheet of boss Marcelo Bielsa.

As per the aforementioned MD, however, against Bolivia, the 26-year-old could be left out.

In fact, ahead of Barcelona’s rescheduled La Liga meeting with Osasuna on March 27th, Araújo could be afforded an early return to base in Catalunya’s capital.

Marcelo Bielsa, it is understood, is prioritising physical fitness and wellbeing over experience for the trip to Bolivia, a notoriously difficult setting to play in owing to its high altitude.

With Araújo not long back from injury, it is therefore a real possibility that he will sit out, in what would be a timely boost for Hansi Flick and Barcelona.

Conor Laird – GSFN