There could be an intriguing reunion waiting for Ronald Araújo in this season’s Champions League.
According to @scapde_45, if Liverpool and Barcelona are drawn against each other in the competition, Araújo would be eligible to face his former club.
And that would certainly add another fascinating storyline to what would already be a huge European tie.
Araújo vs Barcelona
Araújo has only just completed his move to Liverpool on a season-long loan from Barcelona, arriving at Anfield as an important addition to Andoni Iraola’s defence.
The Uruguayan spent years at Barcelona and rose through the club to become one of their most important defenders and a captain.
Now, he could potentially find himself standing in the way of his former teammates.
Imagine the scene at Anfield.
Barcelona arrive.
Araújo walks out wearing Liverpool red.
And then he has to defend against the players he spent years playing alongside.
That would be quite something.
A huge test for Araújo
If the two clubs do meet, it would also provide an enormous test of Araújo’s defensive ability.
Barcelona possess some of the best attacking talent in Europe, while Liverpool’s new system under Iraola is going to demand plenty from its defenders.
Araújo’s physicality, pace and ability to defend one-on-one could be particularly valuable against Barcelona’s attackers.
He knows the club.
He knows many of the players.
And he understands the way Barcelona want to play.
That could give Liverpool an interesting advantage.
From Barcelona captain to Liverpool defender
There is also something quite remarkable about Araújo’s journey.
He joined Barcelona as a young defender and eventually became one of the club’s captains.
Now he has arrived at Liverpool looking for a fresh challenge and an opportunity to establish himself in a new environment.
He has already spoken about how happy and motivated he is to be at Anfield.
A Champions League meeting with Barcelona would therefore be the ultimate test of his new chapter.
Liverpool will hope they get the chance
Of course, there is a long way to go before we know whether Liverpool and Barcelona will actually meet.
But if they do, Araújo being eligible to play makes the tie even more fascinating.
There would be the tactical battle.
There would be the history.
There would be the emotion of Araújo facing the club where he spent so much of his career.
And there would be Liverpool supporters watching their new centre-back attempt to help knock his former club out of Europe.
What a storyline
Liverpool have entered a new era under Iraola, and Araújo could become an important part of it.
If the Champions League draw eventually puts Liverpool and Barcelona together, this would be one of the most intriguing subplots of the tie.
Araújo against Barcelona.
His former club.
His former teammates.
And this time, he’ll be wearing Liverpool red.
It would certainly be a Champions League reunion worth watching.
Jamie (The Kopite View)
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