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Liverpool confirmed the signing of Ronald Araujo from Barcelona on Monday evening, with the Uruguayan centre-back joining on loan and the Reds holding an option to buy.
Araujo, who can operate both at centre-back and right-back, made his Barcelona debut in 2019 and accumulated 213 appearances for the Catalan club, scoring 14 goals and collecting eight trophies along the way.
“I can’t wait to get started. I’m very, very happy. I’m excited to be here at this massive club with lots of history. I’m excited to meet my teammates, excited to get started playing, and I’m very motivated and really up for getting going.”
“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. 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.” — Ronald Araujo, Liverpool’s official website
Araujo Takes a Shirt Number With Deep Personal Roots
Joining late in the summer window left Araujo with limited options. Available numbers included No. 11, No. 13, No. 16, No. 24, No. 26, No. 27, and No. 29. He settled on the No. 33 shirt, a number that only six players have worn throughout Liverpool’s history.
Layton Maxwell was the first to carry it, in the 1999/00 season, making a single appearance in a League Cup tie against Hull City in September 1999. Alan Navarro followed in the next campaign. Neil Mellor, part of the squad during Liverpool’s 2005 Champions League triumph, wore No. 33 from 2002 to 2005. Sebastian Leto took it in 2007/08, Jonjo Shelvey from 2010 to 2013, and Jordon Ibe from 2013 to 2016.
Araujo’s choice was not driven by availability alone.
“It’s a number that I like, a number that is special to me. Funnily enough, way back when I made my debut as a professional, that was the number I was wearing back then. But it has a personal meaning for me as well, it has a meaning which is all to do with my faith and my relationship with Jesus and God and religion. It’s a subject I spoke about and had a good conversation about with my friends, my family, my partner and my parents. It’s a number I’m very pleased on a number of levels to be wearing.” — Ronald Araujo, via This is Anfield
What Comes Next
Read also: Liverpool Demand £70 Million Before Letting Gakpo Join Tottenham
Araujo is in line to make his Liverpool debut when the Reds host Como at Anfield for their final pre-season friendly on Saturday. Stay with TipsGG for continued coverage of Liverpool’s squad build-up and match previews.