Julián Araujo surprised fans with his move to Barcelona, a transfer that did not unfold exactly as many expected.
The recent transfer window shook Mexican football when the right back from Los Angeles, Araujo, moved from MLS to FC Barcelona in Spain. The signing did not go as smoothly as many had anticipated for a variety of reasons, and the timeline was affected by a technical hiccup that briefly stalled the release of his contract by Spanish authorities and league regulators.
Rafael Marquez Alvarez, who oversees the Mexican talent within the Barcelona system, brought Araujo into the fold with the hope of strengthening the defense. While the player trained with the squad and was integrated with the first team under Xavi Hernandez, he was initially unable to participate in official matches due to regulatory and registration hurdles.
Acquiring Araujo helped fill a position that became thinner after the departure of Héctor Bellerín. Barcelona managed to maintain strong performances in La Liga as they moved forward under the new project led by Xavi and club president Joan Laporta, keeping the team competitive at the top of the standings.
Goal will follow the situation closely and report when Araujo is cleared to make his competitive debut for Barcelona.
WHEN CAN HE DEBUT?
Officially, Araujo is expected to wait until the 2023/24 La Liga season kicks off on August 12 for his debut with Barcelona. There is always a chance that a late regulatory decision could allow him to appear earlier as the season progresses. In the meantime, Araujo has appeared registered with the relevant Spanish football authorities, and only formal approval from the appropriate federation body is outstanding before he can feature in competitive matches.
Source: Goal