Barcelona set to receive almost €3 million from FIFA for long-term injury sustained by star on international duty: Reports
Barcelona are reportedly set to receive almost €3 million from FIFA due to the long-term injury sustained by their defender Ronald Araujo. The Uruguayan centre-back fell to injury while representing his country during the 2024 Copa America. Despite the tournament being held in the summer, the defender's hamstring injury has kept him out of contention, and he has missed every game for Barca this season.
According to a report from Mundo Deportivo (via Barca Universal), FIFA has set up a Club Protection Programme. This provides some financial compensation for clubs whenever their players are injured while playing for their respective countries. However, the compensation is only paid if the injured player spends more than 28 days on the sidelines due to their injury.
The report revealed that Ronald Araujo was injured in the quarter-final clash against Brazil on July 7 - which Uruguay won on 4-2 penalties. The compensation timer started to count on August 3, when FIFA reportedly started paying Barcelona for their injured defender.
Ronald Araujo is expected to return to the pitch by December 15, which would mean he could spend over five months on the sidelines. With FIFA paying Barcelona for much of this time, with the first 28 days of injury excluded, they will reportedly pay a total of €2,753,432.
This compensation ensures that the club does not shoulder the entire wage of the player, who was injured while on national duty.
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has repeatedly punished defender for tardiness
Barcelona boss Hansi Flick has repeatedly punished defender Jules Kounde for tardiness this season. The German manager has opted for strict rules in his dressing room, which include punctuality, but Kounde has struggled to keep up.
According to Spanish outlet AS (via GOAL), this has led to Flick punishing the 26-year-old multiple times this season. The report claims that he was dropped from the starting lineup in their 3-0 La Liga win over Alaves on October 6. He was also dropped from the starting lineup in their 3-1 La Liga win over Espanyol on November 3, for the same reason.
While on international duty with France, Jules Kounde hinted at some unhappiness that may be connected to his struggles with tardiness. He said (via GOAL):
"I would be lying to you if I told you that I love football as much as before. Before it was my career, now it is my job. When I started, my life off the pitch was secondary."
The Barcelona defender will hope he can return to his manager's good graces, but this will mean limiting his tardiness and improving his punctuality as Flick demands.