Ronald Araujo (foto: Getty Images)
Ronald Araujo takes responsibility for decisive errors against Inter, apologizing to Barcelona fans and promising to fight on ahead of El Clásico.
Ronald Araujo has publicly accepted blame for his costly mistakes in Barcelona’s dramatic Champions League elimination to Inter, admitting he was at fault but vowing to stand tall and keep fighting.
The Uruguayan defender was directly involved in both Inter goals that sealed Barcelona’s exit: he failed to track Francesco Acerbi for the 93rd-minute equalizer and was beaten by Marcus Thuram in the lead-up to Davide Frattesi’s winner in extra time.
The fallout was swift and harsh. Furious fans flooded Araujo’s Instagram account with insults and threats, forcing the defender to temporarily deactivate his profile. But 24 hours later, he returned to social media with a message of accountability and defiance.
“I accept it and I recognize it. I’ve never been someone who hides, and I never will,” Araujo wrote, openly acknowledging his errors.
He continued: “It hurts to be eliminated, but it doesn’t end here. We worked, we fought, we gave everything we had in a very tough tie. It wasn’t enough, and that hurts. But I’m also proud. Proud of this team, of my teammates, of the badge we represent, and of every Barcelona fan who stood by us every step of the way.”
Araujo urged fans to look ahead as Barcelona prepare for El Clásico, a match that could decide the La Liga title: “In 2025 we’ve shown, as a team and as fans, the winning mentality we have. El Clásico is coming, and we’ll give it our all.”
Despite the disappointment in Europe, Barcelona remain in contention for a domestic treble, with Araujo determined to play a key role in the season’s final stretch.
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Written by Klemen Kos , football journalist with 20 years of experience.
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