Steve Nicol Critiques Liverpool’s Loan of Ronald Araujo
Liverpool’s late defensive fix has not impressed one of the club’s own former stalwarts.
Steve Nicol has branded the loan signing of Ronald Araujo from Barcelona as “desperate”, despite the deal being structured as a low‑risk move with a potential long‑term upside for the Reds.
Araujo arrived on Merseyside earlier this week after falling out of favor at Camp Nou, with Liverpool negotiating an option to buy next summer for around $63 million (£47 million). The 25-year-old can operate at both center-back and right-back, a profile that seemed to fit neatly with Andoni Iraola’s repeated calls for more depth at the back.
For Nicol, though, the move says more about Liverpool’s predicament than their planning.
“At the end of the day, this shows you the desperate position Liverpool find themselves in — the fact they are taking him on shows you how desperate they are,” the former defender said on ESPN.
“Ronald Araujo at his best is good. But he has not been at his best for a long, long time. Right now, he can't get a game for anybody.
“I think he came on for a minute in the World Cup for Uruguay, so yeah... forgive me if I'm not overly positive.”
Nicol’s assessment cuts sharply across the sense of opportunity Liverpool believe they have found. The structure of the deal protects the club financially: no obligation to buy, cover in two positions, and the chance to revive a defender who, not long ago, was one of Barcelona’s most highly rated assets.
Araujo’s stock has undeniably dropped. He slipped down the pecking order in Catalonia and last season included spells on the sidelines, some of them following high-profile errors that damaged his standing.
The Uruguayan, though, sounded anything but unsure when he walked through the doors at Liverpool.
“It happened really, really quickly, to be honest with you,” Araujo said on arrival. “It’s a huge thanks to Liverpool for making that process so quick and for getting in touch and for their interest. I had a conversation with the sporting director and also the coach.
“I had no doubts for a second about coming here. It’s a great club, a great institution and it’s a great opportunity for me to enjoy my football here.
“I can’t wait to get out on the field and start enjoying myself. As I say, that motivation is really there.”
For a player looking to reset his career, the move feels decisive.
“I think it was the ideal move for me at this stage in my career. I think it was a move that was necessary for me to take,” he continued. “As soon as I heard that interest from Liverpool, everything went into action really, really quickly.
“As I say, I’m super-happy to be here and excited to get started. I’m glad about the interest and it was the right move at the right time.”
Liverpool see a flexible defender with something to prove. Nicol sees a gamble born of need. The answer will come soon enough, when Araujo is asked to turn a “desperate” deal into a defining one.
