Ronald Araujo says it is “very early” to discuss whether his season-long loan from Barcelona to Liverpool will become a permanent transfer at the end of the campaign.
The defender moved to the Reds in August, arriving during an injury crisis that had ruled Joe Gomez, Giovanni Leoni, Conor Bradley and Jeremy Jacquet out of contention.
Jacquet has since returned and made an impressive start to his Liverpool career alongside Virgil van Dijk at centre-back. Araujo, meanwhile, has generally been used at right-back.
The Uruguay international has made 10 appearances in all competitions this season, the joint-highest total in the Liverpool squad alongside Jacquet and Alexis Mac Allister. Eight of those outings have been starts.
His role appears particularly secure for the time being after Jeremie Frimpong was forced off with an injury during Liverpool’s 2-1 victory at Brentford on Saturday.
Araujo has helped Liverpool keep two clean sheets and has competed in more aerial duels than any other player at the club this season. He has contested 36, winning 25 – a figure matched only by Van Dijk among Liverpool players.
Speaking before Tuesday’s Champions League fixture against Villarreal, Araujo said he and his family were enjoying life at Anfield but accepted that his long-term future remained undecided.
> “It’s very early to talk about these things,” Araujo told reporters. “I’m just trying to enjoy every day, continue to grow and develop every day to have that confidence.
> “I’m really happy to be here, my family are also very happy, but it’s a bit early to be talking about these things.
> “I’m very happy because, since I arrived, I’ve been welcomed just as another player, not just by the people at the club but by the fans.
> “I am very grateful to them. I want to give back to them by giving everything in training and every match.”
Across his 10 appearances for Liverpool, Araujo has won 35 of 60 duels. Only Jacquet, with 48, Mac Allister, with 40, and Milos Kerkez, with 39, have won more duels for the Reds this campaign.
