Ronald Araujo has been having quite a disappointing season for Barcelona. Often not starting in the playing XI, the Uruguay international, has been not able to gain the trust of Hansi Flick whenever he is given the opportunity to play.
Starting in one of the important games in their campaign this season, against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, the defender had a night to forget. Committing two unapologetic fouls, he received a red card in the first half of the match, leaving Barcelona battle out with 10 men leading to a 3-0 loss.
Ever since that game, Araujo had never been in the squad and was seeking tranquility, stating depression issues. He then informed the Barcelona management about his trip to Israel, to stay away from his profession and pressures of a footballer and gain some inner peace and spiritual wisdom.
On his return from the trip, Araujo has given an Interview where he spoke about his experience and the reason for seeking spiritual help, taking some time away during the course of the season.
Araujo had spoke out about his depression, revealing that he was suffering from anxiety for more than a year and that had culminated into depression.
“I’d been dealing with anxiety for a year and a half that turned into depression, and I was playing like that. That doesn’t help, because on the field you don’t really feel like yourself. You know your worth and what you can contribute on the field, and when I wasn’t feeling well, I knew something was wrong. That day I realised that was it, that I needed to talk to professionals and the club so they could help me. “
He also urged on the negative side of social media criticism, on how it affects footballers as human beings, beyond their sport.
“Ultimately, we are people beyond just footballers. It’s not all about money, it’s not all about fame. We also suffer because of the things that happen on the pitch. We are lucky to do what we do, yes, but there is the person behind it all, there are the feelings.”
Important to note, he mentioned about a serious threat on his family following his dismal performances via the social media. It went far out of reach, that Araujo’s wife had to encounter something life threatening to their children.
“I remember one day drinking mate with my wife. I saw her face change while looking at her phone and tears fell.I asked her what she saw… ‘I don’t understand the evil of people, they are wishing death on our daughters,’ she told me.”
🚨📸 | Ronald Araújo in Tel Aviv. He will visit churches in Nazareth, Bethlehem, and Jerusalem. #fcblive pic.twitter.com/Wb26l845MR
— BarçaTimes (@BarcaTimes) December 9, 2025
Returning from the trip, he told Mundo Deportivo how much it had helped him regain his sense of calmness and inner peace.
“It was a very personal trip. I’m a Christian, and I went to a place with a rich history for Christianity. I needed that time of peace, of solitude, of tranquility, to reconnect with what I believe, with Jesus, to reconnect, to understand many things because I had so many questions. It helped me immensely. I was able to find peace, it gave me great tranquility, I got the answers I was looking for, and it gave me the strength to face what lay ahead. It was a beautiful trip for me. It’s been the key. Being able to reconnect again, understand my purpose, understand why we’re here.”
Although, some people came in support of Araujo seeking some time away to regain mental peace, a lot of the fans in interest had been against the move. Araujo is being labelled a Zionist, for visiting Israel, which is already under scrutiny from world organizations for its geo political Warfare motives on the people of Palestines.
Zionism is the movement for the development, protection and right to exist of the Jews of Israel. Seeking spiritualism from there, has put Araujo under the banner of Zionism.
Araujo going to Israel to “relax and unwind”.
— Monzi [cvg] (@MagicOfBarca) December 9, 2025
He’s going to a country who’s killed over 600k Palestinians over the past two years…TO RELAX AND UNWIND.
I think I’m losing my mind. How can one be soooo out of touch with the outside world?
More wound to the burn, people found out the followers list of Araujo’s wife to call out the hypocrisy of following someone with entirely contradictory morals to what they suffered.
Araujo’s wife, Abigail Olivera, is seen to be following the Stand with Israel on Instagram, a pro-Israel group, that defends against Antisemitism and the rights of Israel to exist.
Several reactions were cornered around the hypocrisy of visiting Israel, where no mercy is shown to Palestine citizens, including children as an act of their ongoing invasion on Palestine.
Araujo visiting Israel for any specific reason is a personal choice. It is very important to understand the magnitude of pressure, a player from the club of Barcelona’s stature might undergo. Fans being aware of the boundaries while criticizing is something that should improve.
