Ronald Araujo has said Liverpool gave him what he needed to reignite his career after a 'very difficult' period last season. The Reds signed the Uruguayan on loan from Barcelona in August, and he has quickly established himself at Anfield.
Featuring in all seven matches under Andoni Iraola to date, he has emerged as the new head coach's first-choice at right-back. But his return to form on Merseyside follows a challenging period for club and country.
Araujo's difficult period
Araujo took a month-long mental health break in the middle of last season following intense criticism, while injury then left him unused as Uruguay suffered a premature World Cup exit.
While the 27-year-old insists he had nothing to prove after moving to Anfield, he admits Liverpool helped him overcome his previous turmoil.
“Truthfully, I am very happy (at Liverpool). Very, very comfortable,” he said. “From the first moment I arrived, they made me feel very at ease.”
Confidence and continuity
“The team-mates, the coaching staff and obviously the fans, they made me feel at home from the start. That helps. It gives you confidence to perform on the pitch and give your all,” he added.
“I am really happy with this moment. I’ll just keep working hard as I have been doing and I hope it will be a great season for us.”
“No, no, no (I didn’t feel like I had anything to prove) because I don’t do things to answer people or to try and prove anything,” he said. “I know what I am worth, I know what I have and I know what I can do as a player and I am very convinced of that. I simply enjoy playing football.”
International return
Araujo made his return for Uruguay during the expanded international break, starting two of their three friendlies against Japan and South Korea after a muscle injury left him unused at the summer’s World Cup.
Uruguay suffered a group-stage exit as he watched on from the bench, with such disappointment following on from injury also ruling him out altogether at the 2022 World Cup and leaving him as an unused squad player at the Copa America in 2021.
The centre-back was thrilled to make his international return under new head coach Diego Forlan, as he opened up on just how difficult it had been for him seeing his World Cup dreams hampered by injury once again.
“The truth is (I am) very well. Very well, very happy to be back here (with Uruguay),” he told AUFTV. “It’s always, always nice to come and be with the national team, represent the country and share time with my team-mates. So I’m happy, happy for this new stage.”
“I’m going to be very sincere. The truth is it (being injured at the World Cup) was very difficult. Very difficult for me and for my family as well. The family suffers through it and in the end those are two very important competitions that I couldn’t be a part of,” he said.
“It’s tough, it’s tough. It’s tough because you work so hard for that, to be able to be with the national team and to be able to experience one of the most beautiful stages in the world as a footballer.”
“And it’s very difficult. It’s very difficult not to achieve it. In the end you work and give everything, give your all to be there but it didn’t happen once again,” he added. “It hurts me, it hurts me. And maybe I also understand at times the questioning and the criticism, whatever it is that happens, I understand because in the end it’s our job.”
“I’m not going to tell you that I agree because in the end you’re never in agreement when you’re being criticised. But personally I also feel that responsibility of not being there. It is something that I truly feel and it hurts me a lot,” he said.
“But those are just things in life and life is a little like that. You have those difficulties that you have to know how to overcome, look forward and to keep working hard.”
Looking forward
“I know what I can contribute to the national team. I firmly believe that a very beautiful stage is coming. And I mean not just for the group but for me too,” he said.
“I am convinced that I will bring much joy to my country and to my family. In the end, I am Uruguayan and I feel it deeply. I love my country.”
“I am convinced that I am going to bring them a lot of joy. And I work for that. And I am going to work much harder than I worked before to be able to achieve it and give everything that I want, what I yearn for, that dream of every player,” he added.
“I can give them one of the most beautiful titles there is. And I am going to give it my all and pour my heart and soul into it, to be there and to win a title.”
He continued: “We are fortunate to be able to work at what we most like to do and that gives me the desire to keep moving forward and to keep enjoying it despite the difficulties to get back up.”
“Not just in football but in life as well. It’s about falling, getting back up and trying again. For us Uruguayans, it’s in our blood. Getting back up, trying again and not giving up,” he said.
“That is what I try to implement in my life and my career. That is how I work. In the end, despite the difficulties, I am always smiling and convinced that the best is yet to come. I have no doubt that the best is yet to come.”
