"I was always clear to stay. Now I feel valued"

Barcelona's Uruguayan defender Ronald Araujo assured on Tuesday that the team's “clear objective” is to “win the league” and he is convinced that it is still possible, because “there are many points left and there is still a chance to do it”. However, the centre-back acknowledged that the team “no longer has a margin for error” after having dropped so many points, and that they must “make it three out of three” if they want to keep their chances of winning the title.
Araujo made these statements at the Antigua Fabrica Damm, where he attended as co-sponsor -as well as Girona striker Cristhian Stuani- of the 19th edition of the book 'Relats Solidaris del'Esport'. The work, written by sports journalists, has managed to raise on this occasion 94,411.86 euros that will go to the Children's Oncology Foundation Enriqueta Villavecchia.
Asked about Real Madrid's formal protest against the refereeing establishment in a letter sent to the Royal Spanish Football Federation, Araujo preferred to avoid the controversy. “It's not my place to go into details or comment on that. We are focused on what we are doing, on everything that lies ahead of us,” replied the Uruguay international.
Nor did he want to elaborate when asked about which team he wanted to win the derby between Real Madrid and Atletico. He limited himself to wishing for “a result that would result in both teams losing points”.
Araujo, who recently renewed his contract with Barcelona until 2031, insisted that he was always “calm” during the negotiations about his continuity because at all times he was “clear” that he wanted to continue “many years” at the Catalan club.
“Now I feel valued, that's what is important. I was always clear to stay. I'm important in this team and I'm happy to continue for many years,” he added. The Uruguayan defender has not had an easy start to the season after being injured with his national team in last summer's Copa America, but said he is “happy to be back with the team and playing after a long time”.