Ronald Araujo: I don't mind if I am captain, I am a born leader anyway

Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba have left and Barcelona must now appoint new captains. Sergi Roberto and Marc ter Stegen will continue among the four but the squad must choose two more. Ronald Araujo, with his leadership qualities, is one of the most likely to be among those chosen.

"It's always a source of pride to be captain of this team, but it's not up to me. It's something the players choose. I consider myself a leader with or without the armband. I consider myself a born leader and that will always be the case", said the Uruguayan after Barça's first training session in Los Angeles.

The centre-back explained that he feels "important and I think you saw that last year. I have to maintain that and help the team. We have to have a better season than last year. Important players are coming in who are going to add to what we have and we believe we can go for all the competitions."

Araujo renewed in April 2022 with Barça until 2026, but that new contract has not yet been registered in La Liga.

"I'm very calm. I showed that I want to be here when I renewed and now it's the club's job," explained the defender, who is satisfied with the signings made so far by the club: "They are important players with a lot of experience who can help us. Those who chose them saw it right. I hope they add value. They will bring us their experience."

Messi & Madrid

Lionel Messi, though, was not able to come back to Barça. Araujo has valued his signing for Inter Miami: "I was excited that Leo could come, but I wish him all the best. He's at a nice club and he's going to be fine with his family. We all want him to be well because we love him."

Finally, he did not want to analyse the words of the president Joan Laporta in which he assured that Barça has a better squad than Real Madrid, a team that the Uruguayan respects very much: "They are a great team. They have always shown that. I think they will always put up a fight, but we have to focus on ourselves. If we have a better squad? We have to prove it on the pitch."