Araujo opens up on mental health battle and emotional Barcelona comeback: ‘Been suffering from anxiety for a year-and-a-half’

Barcelona captain Ronald Araujo has ended months of silence by revealing the mental-health crisis that forced him to step away from football, explaining that an 18-month battle with anxiety had escalated into depression while he was still lining up for the club.

The 26-year-old Uruguayan defender made his return in last weekend’s match against Albacete and, speaking publicly for the first time since his hiatus, described the 90 minutes as a watershed moment in both his professional and personal recovery.

“The truth is, I’m feeling really good,” Araujo said. “I felt very comfortable. I think I played a good game. I was also able to help with the goal, which was great for me. Physically, I felt strong too. At the end, I was obviously tired because I hadn’t played so many minutes in a long time, but overall, I’m very, very happy.”

The centre-back traced the origins of his struggles to a turbulent period that culminated in the red card he received against Chelsea on 25 November, an incident he now views as the tipping point rather than the root cause.

“I hadn’t been feeling well for a long time, maybe more than a year and a half,” he admitted. “You try to be strong, but I felt that I wasn’t well—not only on a sporting level, but also on a family and personal level. I wasn’t feeling myself, and that was when I clicked and said: Something is happening, I need to raise my hand and ask for help.”

Araujo said the persistent anxiety eventually morphed into depression, yet he continued to play, masking his condition even from those closest to him.

“In the moment, you feel sad, but then, when the game is over, it all hits you,” he explained. “I already felt that I wasn’t well, that’s the truth, but out of inertia, you try to keep going, and sometimes you need help. I had been suffering from anxiety for a year and a half, which turned into depression, and I was playing like that. That doesn’t help, because you don’t feel like yourself on the field.”

The defender emphasised that quitting the sport never became a serious consideration, though the thought of stepping away did cross his mind.

“I didn’t think about giving up playing, but you consider a lot of things because I wasn’t feeling myself. I knew my performance wasn’t what I’m capable of.”

Araujo’s first step toward recovery came when he approached sporting director Deco to disclose his situation.

“At first, he was a little surprised because it’s not very common for a Barcelona player to tell him these things, but he took it very well, in a very personal way. From the very first minute, Deco called the president and the coach. They were spectacular.”

Head coach Hansi Flick also offered unwavering support, repeatedly stressing that health took precedence over fixtures.

“He took it very personally. Flick knows my condition, and it was clear that I wasn’t performing at my best. From the beginning, he sent me messages telling me to take my time recovering, that the most important thing was to get through it well.”

Inside the dressing room, teammates provided a lifeline during the lowest points. Araujo recalled days when he struggled to get out of bed, and messages from Pedri and Frenkie de Jong urging him to “come back as the titan you always are” lifted his spirits.

The outpouring of support extended beyond Barcelona’s walls. Players from Serie A and the Bundesliga privately shared their own experiences with mental-health issues, confessing they had hidden their struggles for fear of public reaction or financial repercussions.

Araujo believes the time away has fundamentally altered his outlook.

“I’ve changed quite a bit because I’ve learned a lot during this time. I feel different and I’m happy about that because I’m more comfortable, happier. I can enjoy what I love doing, which is playing football, and that helps a lot.”

With his first match back behind him and a support network firmly in place, the captain is determined to move forward, advocating for greater openness in a sport where vulnerability is often stigmatised.