Sergio Araujo is a name that’s been bandied about for quite a while now. I remember his potential signature being floated last summer in the hallowed pages of journalism that are Sport and Mundo Deportivo, back in the halcyon days when you could just print anything and everything in Spanish newspapers regardless of their veracity. Those days, however, are long gone and so it’s only the unvarnished truth that is ever published. And so instead of going directly into the starting lineup, making the radical shift from Boca Juniors to Barcelona with the athletic grace of a gazelle in full flight (and they are majestic) and the poise of a matador moments before dealing the fateful blow to his charging opponent.
Now, though, Araujo, a 20-year old who has played for Boca only a handful of times over the last 3 years (some 21 times according to Wikipedia Español) is making the move to Barcelona B, where he’ll have the chance to show his stuff in a system that might let him grow into the first team. The deal is, of course, worth tens of millions of euros, a cash deal that–I’m being told it’s a loan with an option to buy. So much for the dramatic shift, for the permanent outlay on a player of unproven talent.
On the surface, without having seen him play, but having read a lot of hyperbole about his abilities, it’s a good deal. Loans are a solid to the B team are a solid way to assess a player’s potential and incorporate him into the Barça system.
And, in first team news, Javier Mascherano has signed a contract extension tying him to the club until 2016.