Barcelona president names the player he wants to offer lifetime contract

FC Barcelona
Barcelona president names the player he wants to offer lifetime contract
Joan Laporta reveals he would renew Ronald Araujo's contract 'for life'
Uruguay international has attracted transfer interest from Bayern and Man Utd
Barca's financial problems could force sales of key players this summer

By Jude Summerfield
3:20 PM GMT
Laporta names the Barca star he wants to keep for their whole career
Laporta names the Barca star he wants to keep for their whole career / Quality Sport Images/Getty Images
Barcelona president Joan Laporta said he would ideally renew Ronald Araujo's contract for life at the recent premiere of a documentary about the Uruguayan's life and career.

The defender has attracted transfer interest from European giants in recent years, most notably from German giants Bayern Munich, though 90min understands he currently has no plans to leave Catalonia in the near future.

Manchester United have also been tracking the 25-year-old, who made his first-team debut in the 2019/20 season and is closing in on 150 appearances in all competitions for the La Liga outfit.

Speaking as his club launched their new Barça One streaming service alongside a documentary titled 'Origins: Ronald Araujo', Laporta insisted he wants to keep Araujo for as long as possible.

He said: "I would renew him for life. He's a wonderful person. He is one of the best centre-backs at the club. I want to highlight his commitment to the club. Barcelona are proud that a player like you, who defends the colours of Barcelona in this way."

Araujo has attracted interest from Bayern and Man Utd
Araujo has attracted interest from Bayern and Man Utd / Quality Sport Images/Getty Images
Sporting director Deco also recently dismissed any chance of either Araujo or midfield playmaker Frenkie de Jong leaving in the summer.

"Nothing will happen," he said.

"They have a contract and we want to keep the best. And they are the best. They are footballers of the present and the future. They are players who have earned the right to be at Barca and they have earned the respect of the fans and the club. We want to continue counting on them."

Barca's well-known financial issues mean a large transfer offer for a player like Araujo could change the stance of their high-ranking officials in the coming months, though other first-team figures are reportedly being targeted for summer exits.

Jules Kounde and Raphinha are in danger of being sold, while injury-plagued midfielder Pedri is another star who could be moved on if a big offer arrives.

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Premier League
'Our trophies mean more' - Trent Alexander-Arnold aims jab at Man City
Premier League title rivals Liverpool and Man City meet at Anfield on Sunday
Both sides part of three-horse race alongside free-scoring Arsenal
Alexander-Arnold reveals why Merseyside success means more than Man City 'machine'

By Jude Summerfield
2:00 PM GMT
Alexander-Arnold scored at the Etihad earlier this season
Alexander-Arnold scored at the Etihad earlier this season / Visionhaus/GettyImages
Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold has hit Manchester City with a jab ahead of Sunday's huge clash at Anfield, insisting his side's success and trophies "mean more to us and our fanbase".

The Cityzens enter the weekend as England's most dominant team in recent years, having won five of the last six Premier League titles as well as picking up their first Champions League crown last year.

Jurgen Klopp's Reds are the only side to pip Pep Guardiola's outfit to the title of late, coming first in the Covid-19 affected 2019/20 campaign, and both are part of a three-horse race alongside Arsenal ahead of this year's run-in.

Liverpool are historically one of the biggest teams in the world while Man City's success has arrived in the modern age after Abu Dhabi United Group's investment in 2008. Alexander-Arnold says the difference in approaches means the achievements on Merseyside are more valuable for the players and wider community.

"ALEXANDER-ARNOLD HAS PINNED ONE IN FOR LIVERPOOL!" 🎯🔴 pic.twitter.com/5lD0lhhYpt

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 25, 2023
He told FourFourTwo: "It's tough. We're up against a machine that's built to win - that's the simplest way to describe City and their organisation.

"Looking back on this era, although they've won more titles than us and have probably been more successful, our trophies will mean more to us and our fanbase because of the situations at both clubs, financially.

"How both clubs have built their teams and the manner in which we've done it, probably means more to our fans."

Alexander-Arnold, who scored the equaliser against City in November's reverse fixture, is one of a number of Liverpool stars who won't be fit to feature in Sunday's duel.

He is expected to be available for matchday selection after the March international break, while Klopp is hopeful fellow absentees Alisson, Diogo Jota and Curtis Jones among others will return from their knocks soon.

The mass absences are yet to derail Liverpool's run at the title. They sit a point clear of Man City at the top, though both the treble winners (18) and Arsenal (16) have taken more points from their last six games than the Reds' 15.

On City's traditional charge at the start of the year, the England international added: "From the turn of the year, City switch it on and it's a difficult machine to stop. But we've shown in the past that we've been able to do it and there's no reason why we can't go and match them this season.

"We're excited to be involved with City and know we're in a good position. I'm sure they'll be motivated, as are we. It's going to be an exciting end."

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