Barcelona have seen a number of their players receive international recognition in recent weeks, with several first-team stars now preparing for the biggest tournament in world football.
The Catalan giants will be keeping a close eye on their squad throughout the summer, especially with Hansi Flick hoping his key players return fully fit ahead of the new campaign.
After securing major progress in the transfer market and continuing plans for further additions, attention has briefly shifted away from club matters as international football takes centre stage.
The World Cup is now just around the corner, and several Barcelona players are expected to play important roles for their respective countries during the tournament.
One of those players is Ronald Araujo, who has officially been included in Uruguay’s final squad for the competition, as announced on their website.
The Barcelona defender was always expected to make the cut after becoming one of the most important figures in Marcelo Bielsa’s setup over the last few years.
Uruguay finally confirmed their travelling party for North America, with Ronald Araujo among the 26 selected players who will represent the South American nation.
The centre-back is expected to start at the heart of the defence and could form a partnership with Jose Maria Gimenez, creating one of the tournament’s most experienced central defensive pairings.
Uruguay’s defensive options also include Guillermo Varela, Sebastian Caceres, Mathias Olivera, Joaquin Piquerez and Matias Vina, giving Bielsa plenty of depth across the back line.
Araujo’s inclusion comes as no surprise given his status within the national team, where he has remained a regular starter whenever available.
Meanwhile, Barcelona supporters may also take notice of another familiar name in the squad.
Darwin Nunez has been selected as one of Uruguay’s leading attacking options alongside Rodrigo Aguirre and Federico Vinas.
The Liverpool striker has been linked with a potential move to Barcelona in recent months during discussions surrounding Joao Cancelo’s future, although no deal has materialised at this stage.
For now, Araujo’s focus will be entirely on helping Uruguay make a deep run at the World Cup, while Barcelona will hope their defensive leader returns to Spain after another successful international campaign.
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