Ronald Araujo to comeback in Spanish Super Cup

Ronald Araujo to Comeback in Spanish Super Cup: Hansi Flick Reveals Squad

Sportsdunia Desk

Modified - Jan 06, 2026, 06:16 PM

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Ronald Araujo to Comeback in Spanish Super Cup: Hansi Flick Reveals Squad

Summary

Captain Ronald Araujo rejoins the squad, prioritising mental health and leadership for Jeddah.
Hansi Flick emphasises player well-being and empathy ahead of the Athletic Bilbao clash.
In-form keeper Joan Garcia remains Flick’s "world-class" wall following sensational derby heroics.

As the Spanish Super Cup kicks off in Jeddah, the mood around Barcelona is one of dominance tempered by genuine empathy, with Hansi Flick’s side arriving as reigning champions and as a group displaying a rare blend of tactical control and emotional maturity. Hansi Flick has named a settled 24‑player Barcelona squad for the tournament, and the inclusion of Ronald Araujo, who has not featured since a difficult Champions League night in November, has given the dressing room a significant psychological lift. Backed by the sensational form of Joan Garcia, whom Hansi Flick recently hailed as “one of the best”, FC Barcelona appears ready to chase the first major silverware of the year in the Spanish Super Cup.

The Return of Ronald Araujo

The headline news from the Barcelona camp is the presence of Ronald Araujo in the travelling Barcelona squad for the Spanish Super Cup. The Uruguayan captain has been sidelined since late November after a complicated spell that included a red card against Chelsea in the Champions League and a subsequent mental health break away from the pitch.

Hansi Flick has treated Ronald Araujo’s situation as a chance for the club to live up to its values, not as a sporting failure, reinforcing how central the defender remains to both the team and the broader narrative of the Spanish Super Cup.

In his pre‑match press conference, Hansi Flick underlined the human side of elite football, stressing that players face enormous pressure and must be protected, with Ronald Araujo held up as a key figure and one of the captains who will be supported unconditionally. He insisted that mistakes are part of the game and praised the way the club handled Ronald Araujo’s absence, adding that the defender’s return to the Barcelona squad is vital as they push for the Spanish Super Cup and the titles beyond it.

Flick’s Barcelona in 2026

Barcelona heads into the Spanish Super Cup as the team to beat, with one of the best coaches, Hansi Flick, turning the side into a relentless, high‑pressing, high‑scoring unit that has found remarkable consistency. Sitting at the top of La Liga after nine consecutive victories, this Barcelona squad carries an aura of control and inevitability that perfectly suits a short, high‑stakes competition like the Spanish Super Cup. Their recent 2‑0 derby win over Espanyol showed that even when they have to suffer without the ball, they still find solutions in both penalty areas.

With Robert Lewandowski and Dani Olmo scoring freely, Hansi Flick’s “machine” feels finely tuned at exactly the right moment, and the expanded Barcelona squad for Saudi Arabia reflects that confidence. The Spanish Super Cup now offers Hansi Flick the chance to translate league dominance into another trophy, further validating his work with this evolving group.

Flick's Press Conference

Despite the win over Espanyol, Flick was critical of the defensive lapses. "It will not be an easy match if we make the same mistakes. We have to work on our things," he warned. He also confirmed the impending arrival of Joao Cancelo on loan, noting that the combination of Araujo's return and Cancelo's versatility gives him "good alternatives" for the first time this season.