The Uruguayan, a winger in 3 of the final 4 video games towards Madrid, is the one who has greatest defended the Brazilian. His friendship with Valverde and his fluency in Portuguese, keys to their good relationship
Their lives are parallel. They obtained on a airplane Brazil and Uruguay and so they crossed the pond to get to Madrid and Barcelona virtually on the identical time summer time 2018. They’d 18 and 19 yearsThey had been virtually youngsters. And maybe it’s all this that has united them deep down: the humble originthe guess for a race away from dwellingthe audacity to signal for a soccer large worldwide and the early, sudden explosion. Are Vinicius Júnior and Ronald Araújo.
«that boy is excellent». Within the fields of Valdebebas, when requested concerning the footballer who has greatest defended the younger star of Actual Madrid, the identify of the Barcelona central defender all the time seems. His physique and his defensive expertise are valued, which is logical, but in addition his honesty and integrity of his protection. In a season wherein Vinicius has suffered extra psychological markings than soccer, the Brazilian participant himself factors to Araújo as the very best rival he has confronted in current months. Not a struggle, not a foul gesture, not a provocation. Solely soccer. And he or she has finished effectively.
Araújo, all the time a centre-back, has been a right-back within the 0-4 final 12 months on the Bernabéu (scored a objective), within the last of the Arabian Tremendous Cup (3-1 for the culés) and within the final 0-1 within the Copa del Rey, in all drying a Vinicius who appeared as the good menace of Madrid. Is his kryptonite. On October 3-1 in Chamartín, Xavi guess on Sergi Roberto towards Vinicius, a mistake that it appears he won’t make once more. The coach has solely used Araújo as a winger towards Madrid and within the first leg towards united. For the remainder of the duels, he prefers on the appropriate to Koundé. The presence of Vinicius, key.
“Vinicius is primary”
And past the grass is mutual respect. “For me Vinicius is primary one on one”, Araújo stated this week, the place he has averted speaking about provocations or psychological warfare: “I do not suppose I am successful no struggle. It is simply soccer. We have now many duels left in our careers, we should proceed working.
Some statements that, in the course of the media battle for the ‘Negreira case‘ and with the hangover of the markings of different rivals on Vinicius, they’ve fallen effectively in Chamartín, the place Araújo, who speaks a excellent portuguese having grown up close to the Brazilian border, he has extra mates than enemies.
“I really like Ronald rather a lot”
The Uruguayan, who shares a communication company with Rodrygo GoesHe is a good pal of his compatriot Fede Valverde, who raves about him within the locker room. The trail of each Uruguayans dates again to July 2015, when Valverde debuted with Penarol in a pleasant towards the Brazilian Cruzeiro within the metropolis of Riveradwelling space of Araújo, who was within the stands that day watching the sport.
With that date as the primary reminiscence, they’ve been strengthening their friendship within the concentrations of a range that with out Diego Godin and Luis Suarez, now they’ve them as leaders. Each shone within the U-20 World Cups that they performed, Valverde in 2017 and Araújo in 2019, and so they nonetheless really feel the ache immediately for the failure in Qatar, the place their crew was eradicated within the group stage. «He’s my pal, though he’s Barça, however he’s my pal the identical, “Valverde joked throughout the World Cup. «I really like him very a lot. He’s a ten as a accomplice ».
Tonight, Araújo and Vinicius, with Valverde by their facet, will play a traditional that may resolve the struggle for the championship. If Barça wins, it is going to transfer away to 12 factors. If Madrid does it, it is going to get shut to 6. And every part occurs by way of a band, by way of one other traditional: Araujo – Vinicius.