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 finally spoken about the most difficult period of his career, revealing the mental health struggles that forced him to step away from football.

After months of silence, the defender has now returned to the pitch and, more importantly, to a better mental place.

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Following his comeback appearance against Albacete, Araujo admitted he felt both physically strong and emotionally stable again.

The defender explained that the match was an important step in his recovery and confidence.

“The truth is, I’m feeling really good. 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 red card against Chelsea

The Uruguayan also reflected on how much he has changed since his red card in London on November 25, an incident that marked the start of his break from football.

Araujo was sent off against Chelsea. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

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“I’ve changed quite a bit because I’ve learned a lot during this time. I think it was what I needed to do after that decision I made. 

“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.”

When asked what exactly had changed, Araujo explained that the time away helped him gain a new perspective on life and football.

“Well, you see things from another point of view. I felt that the worst of the worst was over and now I see things differently. 

“The time I took off was for a reason, because in the end I was able to work on it with professionals, with my family, and spiritually, which was what I needed.”

Looking back at the red card against Chelsea, Araujo revealed that the moment was only part of a deeper and longer struggle.

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“It was a combination of things. I hadn’t been feeling well for a long time, maybe more than a year and a half. 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.

“I’m one of those people who keep everything to myself, but you also have to understand that there are professionals who can help you.

“I needed to raise my hand and say that something was happening to me in order to recover.”

Been dealing with it for a long time

He also revealed the extent of the issue, admitting that anxiety had turned into depression while he was still playing matches.

Araujo has opened up on his mental state. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

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“In the moment, you feel sad, but then, when the game is over, it all hits you. 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.

“When I wasn’t feeling well, I knew something was going on. That day, I realised that I needed to talk to professionals and the club so they could help me.”

Despite the mental struggle, Araujo insisted that quitting football was never truly on his mind.

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“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. That’s why you consider a lot of things, but it wasn’t the idea.”

Support from Barcelona

The defender also spoke about the reaction inside the club when he decided to speak up, starting with sporting director Deco.

“First, I spoke to Deco because he’s the sporting director and he’s close to us. I told him what was happening to me.

“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.

“I’m very grateful to Deco, the president, the coach, and also to the people behind the scenes who you might not see, who are part of our day-to-day lives. The club gave me everything I needed to recover.”

Araujo is thankful to Flick. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

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He also highlighted the support he received from Hansi Flick, who encouraged him to take the necessary time to recover.

“He took it very personally. Flick knows my condition, and it was clear that I wasn’t performing at my best. He knew something was going on.

“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.”

Araujo admitted that the dressing room also played a key role during his darkest days.

“A huge one. After making the decision, I had some really bad days. I didn’t want to get out of bed. It was hard, because I had always dreamed of playing football and now I had to stop.”

He also remembered the encouraging words from teammates, which helped him stay motivated.

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“They were all very nice messages from Pedri, Frenkie… Messages like, “Take it easy, get well, and come back as the titan you always are.” That was really nice because you see that they trust you.”

Support from the football community

Finally, Araujo revealed that the support went beyond Barcelona, with players from other clubs reaching out privately.

“That surprised me a lot. When I decided to stop, I didn’t imagine the boom it would cause, but, of course, we’re at Barça. Players from other teams in Italy and Germany. 

“They appreciated what I had done.

“Some told me they had been through the same thing but had kept it to themselves because they were perhaps being paid, they were afraid to stop, afraid of how people would react.”

Source: Mundo Deportivo