The 25-year-old, who is reportedly admired by Bayern Munich, is reportedly aware of rumours that he could leave Barcelona at the end of the current campaign, but he is still eager to stay in Barcelona, according to Catalunya Radio.

Barcelona’s financial problems are well known, and the team may now investigate the more conventional method of raising money in the summer transfer market. The club has already employed a number of financial levers that leveraged future earnings for immediate funding.

Araujo’s name has frequently been connected to a departure since, from an accounting perspective, it is a more appealing idea to sell a player who has been with the team for a considerable amount of years and whose original cost has fully amortised.

While Araujo is often mistaken for a Barcelona youth product, he actually arrived as a 19-year-old having played in the Uruguayan Primera Division with Boston River. He spent two season with Barcelona’s B team before breaking through to the first team at Camp Nou.

The Blaugrana will try to right the ship with a rare Monday night matchup against European contenders Valencia following a brutal Champions League exit and Clasico loss. The team’s accountants will be especially excited if they secure a spot in the second division of La Liga and a trip to the lucrative Spanish Super Cup in the following season.