Liverpool don finally complete loan deal for Barcelona centre-back Ronald Araujo, but former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher don open mouth and yarn say the deal na mix of the best and the worst.
According to Spanish newspaper Sport, Carragher don accept the move get upsides and downsides, especially as Liverpool defence don suffer plenty blows. Virgil van Dijk na di only experienced option wey dey fully available, after Ibrahima Konate don leave and other defenders dey struggle with injury.
Carragher no get any doubt about Araujo ability. E call am physical monster, aggressive, and e say Araujo fit play either centre-back or right-back. E also get experience from high level, as e be captain for Barcelona and don play big matches.
The former England international also believe say di loan deal na low-risk. E say dem go test Araujo for one year, see how e go adapt to Iraola style and Premier League pace, and if e succeed, dem go buy am. ‘We test am for a year, and we see whether e go adapt, and if e succeed, we buy am. Dat part make sense. E fit fill gap without blowing up budget.’
But Carragher don carry strong reservation about Araujo mental and tactical side. E say di player dey get concentration problem and e dey make bad decisions under pressure. ‘Very often against elite teams e dey lose concentration, e dey give away naive penalties or get sent off. Premier League no dey forgive; any small mistake go cost you.’
Carragher also stress say Araujo get consistency and discipline issues, and im level don drop. E say Liverpool make mistake by no signing more experienced defender, instead dem pick player wey be substitute for 19-year-old Pau Cubarsi for Barcelona.
‘Arriving here on loan after dem tell am say e no be starter for Barcelona, e look like reaction rather than deal for big star,’ Carragher tok. E add say im go prefer permanent solution wey fit di system for long term. ‘But make we see am play first. I no dey excited yet.’
