Barcelona captain returns to training as team begins new week of pre-season

Barcelona captain returns to training as team begins new week of pre-season Ronald Araújo was the headline addition to Barcelona’s training session on Monday as the club captain officially rejoined the squad for pre-season. The Uruguayan defender had already visited Ciutat Esportiva a week earlier to undergo assessments on the injury he suffered before the World Cup, while also taking the opportunity to greet teammates and coaching staff. Now, he is back on the pitch and ready to begin preparations for the new campaign, confirms SPORT . First senior World Cup player back Araujo becomes the first senior Barcelona player to return from the World Cup. It must be noted that youth forward Hamza Abdelkarim has already joined pre-season training from the first week after featuring for Egypt at the tournament. The rest of the club’s international contingent, including Joao Cancelo, who is set to join permanently, are expected to rejoin the squad gradually over the coming weeks. Back for pre-season. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images) Frenkie de Jong had been expected to follow, but the Dutch midfielder returned from the tournament carrying a knee injury. While Barcelona have yet to officially confirm the diagnosis, early indications suggest the cruciate ligaments have not been affected. A difficult year Araujo’s return carries significance beyond football. The defender endured one of the most challenging seasons of his career after stepping away from the team for several months while dealing with mental health issues. His decision to speak openly about his struggles was widely praised, helping bring greater visibility to a subject that is still rarely discussed in professional football. Although he eventually returned to action, he found it difficult to reclaim a regular starting place during the decisive stages of the season, with Hansi Flick preferring players who had built up more match rhythm. Even so, Araujo’s attitude throughout the process was viewed as exemplary. Fighting for his place Now fully focused on the new season, the 27-year-old is determined to convince Flick that he deserves a key role once again. Competition in central defence is fierce, with Pau Cubarsi, Eric Garcia, Andreas Christensen, Gerard Martin, Alvaro Cortes and academy prospect Hafiz Gariba all competing for opportunities. Fighting for his place. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) Araujo also featured at right-back on several occasions last season, giving Flick additional tactical flexibility. Over the coming weeks, Flick is expected to hold individual meetings with several first-team players, including Araujo, to outline their roles for the season ahead. The German coach intends to be transparent with every member of the squad, while continuing to base selection decisions on merit rather than reputation. Injury no longer a concern Araujo will initially follow an individual programme to catch up physically after missing the opening week of pre-season, during which his teammates have already completed eight training sessions. However, the injury that ruled him out of the World Cup now appears to be behind him. The defender even made a brief trip back to Barcelona before the tournament to receive treatment from the club’s medical staff. Although he recovered in time to potentially feature in the knockout rounds, Uruguay’s group-stage elimination meant he never had the opportunity to play. Now, with a full pre-season ahead of him, Araujo has the chance to put those setbacks behind him and fight for a place in Flick’s plans.