According to reports, Argentine right-back Juan Foyth’s summer signing has been prioritized by Barcelona manager Xavi. Following Barcelona’s 4-0 loss to Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg, a meeting reportedly took place, as reported by Javi Miguel, a reporter for the Spanish outlet Diario AS.
The meeting was attended by all of the club’s decision-makers, including manager Xavi, president Joan Laporta, and director Mateu Alemany.According to reports, it was decided that the Blaugrana would need to sign a few high-profile players in order to compete with the best teams in the industry.
An area of particular concern has been identified as Ronald Araujo’s right defender during the loss to Madrid on Wednesday.Araujo and Jules Kounde have taken over at right back this season.
Xavi has demanded a natural right-back this summer, despite the fact that the center backs have performed admirably outside of their comfort zones. It has been alleged that Villarreal right back Foyth, who is also from Argentina, is the player Xavi wants the club to sign before the 2023–24 season.
Since the summer of 2017, Barcelona has been keeping an eye on the Villarreal right back, who has a €54 million release clause in his contract. The 25-year-old was close to joining Villarreal in 2022, but the move fell through due to Villarreal’s high financial demands and an injury that occurred at the wrong time.
According to reports, Villarreal have made it abundantly clear that they will not accept anything less than €54 million. By moving one of their players in the opposite direction, the Catalans hope to lower the price. Which player they are willing to give up is not clear.
Thomas Meunier of Borussia Dortmund, Benjamin Pavard of Bayern Munich, or Diogo Dalot of Manchester United could all be options for the club if Foyth is not available. Due to their high financial demands, Manchester City’s Joao Cancelo and Girona’s Arnau Martinez are not available.
His contract with Villarreal comes to an end in June 2026 for Foyth, who was a member of the Argentina team that won the World Cup in 2022. Since the 2020-21 season, he has played 92 games for the club, scoring three times and providing five assists.
Ronald Araujo of Barcelona discusses the circumstances surrounding his altercation with Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid:
In front of a packed Camp Nou, Real Madrid and Barcelona fought for a place in the Copa del Rey final. Emotions were running high, and there were a few little fights all over the field, as is typical during Clasicos.
In the 84th minute, four minutes after Los Blancos scored their fourth goal, Ronald Araujo of Barcelona and Vinicius Junior of Madrid had a pretty obvious fight. The Uruguayan was booked for pushing the Brazilian to the ground. If the other players hadn’t intervened and separated the pair, the situation might have gotten even worse.
After the game, Araujo uncovered the purpose for his activities.Vinicius Junior, who assisted on one of Karim Benzema’s three goals and scored the opening goal, tormented Araujo all night. He slipped past him endlessly time again with his speed and cunning, uncovering the make-shift right-back’s positional ungainliness.