TA: Araujo Took a Pay Cut to Help Complete Liverpool Move and Hired Extra English Lessons

According to The Athletic, Ronald Araujo has quickly impressed after joining Liverpool on loan from Barcelona. If he can maintain his current form, he could become one of Liverpool's few truly successful loan signings in nearly 20 years.

Liverpool have had few successful loan deals in recent years. The loan spells of Arthur Melo, Ozan Kabak, Steven Caulker, Javier Manquillo, Victor Moses, Aly Cissokho, Nuri Sahin and Emiliano Insua did not leave many positive memories. The last loan deal that truly brought major value to the club dates back to Javier Mascherano, who joined from West Ham United on loan in 2007 before making the move permanent a year later.

This summer, Liverpool had originally decided not to buy a right-back. Conor Bradley was expected to return from a long-term knee injury in the coming months, while the club believed new head coach Iraola could improve Jeremy Frimpong's inconsistency, allowing funds to be invested elsewhere.

However, Frimpong's performances in the first two Premier League matches against Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest fell below expectations, quickly raising concerns about the right-back position.

Araujo's arrival has temporarily eased those concerns. He impressed on his first start for Liverpool in last Friday's 2-0 win over Ipswich Town, and raised his level again in Wednesday's Champions League 2-1 victory over Atletico Madrid.

Araujo's versatility and experience were the main reasons Liverpool decided to bring him in. In early August, when Barcelona agreed to allow the 27-year-old defender to leave on loan, Liverpool moved quickly. Joe Gomez was injured during pre-season, while Bradley and Giovanni Leoni were sidelined for long periods, leaving the team needing defensive reinforcements.

In the last two matches, Iraola has replaced Frimpong with Araujo at right-back, giving Liverpool's defence the stability and composure it urgently needed.

After the win over Atletico, Iraola said: "I think his performance was excellent. The previous match against Ipswich was very good, and I even think tonight was better. He defended his side very well, and because he is naturally a centre-back, sometimes we underestimate his attacking ability. He provided a great assist for Dominik Szoboszlai."

"He delivered several very good passes from that position, and I am very pleased with his performance. He came here wanting to prove that he belongs at this level. I hope he can continue because he is currently in a very good environment."

The assist against Atletico was especially impressive. With five minutes remaining in the first half, Liverpool were trailing 0-1, and Marcos Llorente had already scored his fifth goal in his last three Champions League away appearances at Anfield.

After Bradley Barcola's shot was saved by Jan Oblak, Florian Wirtz collected the rebound and Araujo made a clever run into the box. Receiving the ball with his back to goal, he used his left foot to cleverly set up Szoboszlai, who fired a low shot to equalise.

Araujo, who played as a forward early in his career, celebrated the assist with great excitement as if he had scored himself. Szoboszlai joked after the match: "I am happy for Ronald too. As for whether he meant to make that pass, you have to ask him!"

This was Araujo's first direct Champions League goal contribution since scoring for Barcelona against Atalanta in January 2025.

Beyond the assist, his defensive performance was also praised. During the match, Araujo made a remarkable sprint of around 70 yards to apply pressure, eventually forcing Oblak to hurriedly clear the ball forward and drawing cheers from the Anfield crowd.

After Alexis Mac Allister's superb goal helped Liverpool come from behind to win 2-1, Araujo blocked a dangerous cross from substitute Ademola Lookman and celebrated with a clenched fist. That defensive commitment is very important for a Liverpool side currently featuring many attacking players.

Araujo has maintained disciplined positioning, rarely taking unnecessary risks, while being willing to use his body to make blocks.

Captain Virgil van Dijk said: "Right-back is not his strongest position, but he has played there before and has already shown everyone that he can perform the role very well. The back four and goalkeeper forming a solid unit is crucial for us."

It is still too early to discuss whether Liverpool will activate the £47 million purchase option next summer. Besides Araujo's own performances, the club must consider several other factors.

Van Dijk and Gomez both have contracts expiring next summer, and it remains uncertain whether they will renew. It is also unclear what condition Bradley and Leoni will return in after long absences. Liverpool also have promising young centre-backs such as Ifeanyi Ndukwu and Mor Talla Ndiaye.

However, Araujo has already left Liverpool with positive impressions both on and off the pitch. After a personally difficult season at Barcelona, he was allowed to temporarily step away from the team for mental health reasons. People close to the player say changing his environment and taking on a new challenge has helped restore his energy.

Recently, he moved with his wife Abigail and two daughters into a home not far from Liverpool's training ground. To adapt quickly to life in England, he hired an English teacher and, in addition to club-organised English lessons, takes extra classes at home.

Inside the dressing room, Araujo has become close with Mac Allister and Victor Munoz, with whom he can communicate in Spanish. He also has a good relationship with Alisson, and the two communicate in Portuguese.

After learning that Liverpool were interested in him, Araujo was eager to complete the move and even agreed to take a pay cut to help the club complete the loan deal. After the transfer, fellow Uruguayans and former Liverpool forwards Luis Suarez and Darwin Nunez both sent him their congratulations.

Araujo has also actively integrated into the Liverpool community off the pitch. After learning about young Liverpool fan Isaac Corney's story last week, he sent him a signed shirt and wrote: "To Isaac, with lots of love. You will never walk alone, blessings to you."

For Liverpool, who have rarely received a truly significant return from loan signings over the years, Araujo has already shown something different. Based on his early performances, he is not merely a temporary player brought in to add squad depth, but someone capable of becoming a loan signing who can genuinely change the team.