Barcelona captain Ronald Araujo has finally spoken about the most difficult period of his career, revealing the mental health issues that forced him to step away from football.
After months of silence, the defender is now back on the pitch and, importantly, his mental state has improved.
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After returning against Albacete, Araujo admitted he felt physically strong and emotionally stable again.
The defender explained that the game was an important step in his recovery and confidence.
“The truth is, I felt really good. I felt comfortable. I thought I had a good game. I was able to help with the goal as well, which was great for me.
“Physically, I feel strong, too. At the end, I’m obviously tired because I haven’t played so many minutes for a long time, but overall, I’m very, very happy.”
Red card against Chelsea
The Uruguayan also reflected on how much he has changed since picking up a red card in London on November 25, an incident that marked the beginning of his farewell to football.
Araujo was sent off against Chelsea. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
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“I’ve changed a lot because I’ve learned a lot during this time. I think that’s what I need to do now that I’ve made the decision.”
“I feel different and I’m happy about it because I’m more comfortable and happier. I can enjoy what I love to do, which is play football, and that helps.”
When asked what exactly has changed, Araujo explained that the time away helped him gain a new perspective on life and football.
“Well, you look at things from another perspective. I feel like the worst is behind me and I see things differently now.
“The time I took away was for a reason because ultimately I was able to work with professionals, with my family, and mentally, that’s what I needed.”
Looking back on the red card against Chelsea, Araujo revealed it was just part of a deeper, longer struggle.
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“It was a combination of factors. I hadn’t felt well for a long time, probably more than a year and a half. You try to be strong, but I just didn’t feel well.
“Not just on a sporting level, but on a family and personal level. I wasn’t feeling well and that’s when I suddenly said: something is going on and I need to put my hand up and get help.
“I’m one of those people who keeps everything private, but you also have to understand that there are professionals out there who can help you.
“I need to put my hands up and say something happened to me to recover.”
Been dealing with it for a long time
He also revealed the extent of the problem, admitting that anxiety had turned into depression while he was still playing.
Araujo opened up about his mental state. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
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“In the moment you feel sad but when the game is over it all hits you. I already felt like I wasn’t very good and that’s true but out of laziness you try to move on and sometimes you need help.”
“I’ve been suffering from anxiety for a year and a half, which turned into depression, and that’s how I play. It doesn’t help because you don’t feel like yourself on the court.”
“When I didn’t feel well, I knew something was going on. That day, I realized I needed to talk to professionals and the club so they could help me.”
Despite his mental struggles, Araujo insists he never really thought about quitting football.
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“I didn’t think about giving up the game but you think about a lot of things because I wasn’t feeling well.
“I know my performance is not what I’m capable of. That’s why you think about a lot of things, but it’s not what I think about.”
Support from Barcelona
The defender also spoke about the reaction within the club when he decided to speak out, starting with sporting director Deco.
“First of all, I spoke to Deco because he is the sporting director and is close to us. I told him what happened to me.
“At first he was a little surprised because Barcelona players told him these things are not common, but he took it well and in a very personal way.
“From the first minute, Deco called the chairman and the coach. They performed brilliantly.
“I am very grateful to Deco, the president, the coach and also to the people behind the scenes who you may not see but who are part of our daily life. The club gave me everything I needed to recover.”
Araujo thanked Frick. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
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He also highlighted the support he received from Hansi Flick, who encouraged him to take the necessary time to recover.
“He took my situation very seriously. Flick knew my situation and it was obvious that I wasn’t at my best. He knew what was going on.
“From the beginning, he was sending me messages telling me to take my time recovering and most importantly to get through this.”
Araujo admitted the locker room also played a key role in his darkest days.
“It was a huge decision. I had some really bad days after I made the decision. I didn’t want to get out of bed. It was hard because I always dreamed of playing football but now I have to stop.”
He also remembers the words of encouragement from his teammates, which helped him stay motivated.
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“There were really good messages from Pedri, from Frankie…messages like, ‘Take it easy, get well and come back the same person you’ve always been.'” It’s really good because you see them trust you. “
Support from the football community
Finally, Araujo revealed that the support extends beyond Barcelona, with players from other clubs reaching out privately.
“It surprised me. When I decided to stop, I didn’t expect it would lead to such a boom, but, of course, we are at Barca. There are players from other teams in Italy and Germany.
“They appreciate what I do.
“Some people told me that they had experienced the same thing but they didn’t disclose it because they might have been paid to do it and they were afraid to stop for fear of people’s reactions. “
Source: World Sports News
