Barcelona suffer fresh injury blow as Ronald Araujo set to be sidelined for a month

Barcelona have been dealt a huge blow as star defender Ronald Araujo has sustained a thigh injury, as confirmed by the club.

Although the Catalan giants haven’t shed light on the extent of the injury, Mundo Deportivo claims that the Uruguayan could be out of action for at least a month.

The 24-year-old suffered a niggle during the Joan Gamper trophy, but he managed to play the entire game against Getafe in the La Liga opener last weekend.

The news will certainly not bode well for the Blaugrana due to the Uruguayan international’s importance at the back.

Araujo has played as a makeshift right-back, and Xavi must reassess his options for the forthcoming games.

Jules Kounde is expected to be moved from centre-back to right-back – as was frequently the case last season – while Xavi can also count on Sergino Dest.

Dest’s future in Catalonia remains the subject of speculation after falling down the pecking order.

The Catalan giants are keen on offloading the United States star in a bid to trim their bloated wage bill, with PSV Eindhoven leading the race to sign him.

Barca are on the lookout for a new right-back, and they will have to accelerate their process following Araujo’s injury.

Manchester City’s Joao Cancelo is Xavi’s desired target, and the Catalan giants are exploring a loan move with an option to buy later, given their financial constraints.

Ivan Fresneda of Real Valladolid and Girona’s Arnau Martinez are also being considered as alternative targets.

The La Liga champions made a shaky start to the new season after being held to a stalemate by Getafe in a gruelling encounter.

They are set to welcome Cadiz this weekend in their first home game of the season at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.