Barcelona defender Ronald Araújo has returned to training after a month away to address mental health challenges that had been affecting his performance.
The 26-year-old has appeared in 15 matches for Barça this season but has not played since the November Champions League defeat against Chelsea, in which he received a red card.
Following that match, Araújo sought time off to regain focus and recover his form, a request that the club approved immediately.
During his break, Araújo traveled to Bethlehem and Jerusalem for a spiritual journey aimed at reconnecting with his faith, later returning to Uruguay where he trained alone over the Christmas holiday.
This past weekend, he flew back to Barcelona and participated in Monday’s open training session at the Estadi Johan Cruyff, as the La Liga leaders resumed activities following a week off.
Head coach Hansi Flick’s team is gearing up for a match against local rivals Espanyol, who are on a five-game winning streak in the league, as football in Spain resumes after a brief winter break.
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Araújo is likely to be in contention for the upcoming match, alongside Pedri and Dani Olmo, who are also working to return after missing the previous win against Villarreal.
Looking ahead, Barça will prepare for the Spanish Supercopa, facing Athletic Club in the semifinals in Saudi Arabia on January 7, with a potential final against either Real Madrid or Atlético Madrid.