After 33 Days Away, Barcelona’s Vice-Captain Is Back: Returns to Training on Monday, Witnessed by 6,000 Fans

Ronald Araujo is finally back. On December 29, Mundo Deportivo reported that the 26-year-old will rejoin Barcelona training this Monday, ending a 33-day absence. For the Barça vice-captain, the return marks a meaningful step forward—though when he will be ready to play again remains uncertain.

Araujo’s time away traces back to November 26 in the Champions League, when Barcelona suffered a 0–3 defeat away to Chelsea. Wearing the captain’s armband on the pitch, Araujo picked up two yellow cards in the first half and was sent off after just 44 minutes. His stat line from that short outing—no tackles, no successful duels, no clearances, and a red card—made him the center of criticism once again.

After that match, Araujo did not feature for Barcelona. Officially, the club cited a stomach virus that required rest. But the deeper issue, according to the report, was psychological. The red card and the backlash that followed reportedly weighed heavily on him, leading him to request time away. Barcelona accepted, allowing him to decide when he felt ready to return.

With Barça’s Christmas break now over, the squad will resume training on Monday at the Johan Cruyff Stadium. Araujo is expected to take part in the session in front of around 6,000 fans, offering a highly visible sign that he is moving past the difficult period.

Barcelona’s first match of 2026 is scheduled for January 3, in La Liga Round 18 away to Espanyol. Even so, Mundo Deportivo suggests Araujo is unlikely to be ready for that fixture. His plan is to rebuild step by step—physically and mentally—until he feels fully recovered.

During Araujo’s 33-day absence, he missed seven matches, and Barcelona won them all. Over the past month, he has continued training under the guidance of a private fitness coach and reportedly feels confident about his physical condition. Still, Barcelona are in no rush. After missing multiple games, Araujo will need time to regain rhythm and match sharpness.

There’s no doubt about Araujo’s elite athletic profile: 1.92 meters tall, quick, explosive, and exceptionally strong in duels. But his weaknesses have also been exposed—he can be rash, overly charged in big moments, and prone to costly mistakes when pressure peaks.

In recent Champions League campaigns, those moments have been magnified. In 2023–24, Barcelona’s collapse against Paris Saint-Germain included Araujo being sent off after pulling down Barcola. Last season, in the Champions League semifinal second leg against Inter, he was blamed for two marking errors that contributed directly to two goals as Barcelona were eliminated. His market value has reportedly fallen sharply—from a peak of €70 million to around €25 million—and he has also lost his guaranteed starting spot.

Now, Araujo’s return to the training pitch is more than just a routine update—it’s a reset. The next challenge is turning that return into stability, confidence, and eventually, minutes on the field.