Defender dedicates to God his second goal in Copa del Rey win against Albacete
Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo has credited divine inspiration for returning in positive health to the Catalan side after what has been a difficult six months.
Araujo suffered a mental health breakdown after intense criticism for his performances on the pitch, the most notable one of recent being his sending off in Barcelona’s 3-0 defeat to Chelsea in November.
He was given time off by the club to take care of his mental health and he spent it journeying to spiritual sites in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, as well as visiting his native Uruguay. After scoring Barcelona’s second goal against Albacete in the Copa del Rey on Tuesday, he dedicated his goal to God.
“I am really happy,” Araujo said. “The goal is dedicated to God but I also made a gesture to my wife and then went to hug [manager Hansi Flick]. He has ensured I have come back well.
“I am grateful for the support I have received from the coach and my teammates. I am feeling better all the time.”
Flick hailed the player for his positive return and made clear that providing support for each other was the cornerstone of the Barcelona team he has built over the past two years.
“For him, it’s step by step,” Flick said. “That is the most important thing. He scored also a very important goal for us tonight. I think it could help him to get more confidence, to believe in himself more. This is what we need and what he needs.
“We support him and we help him. He’s doing good. Of course, at the end you saw he’s also exhausted, but it’s like that.”
