Barca icon Carles Puyol labels Araujo as one of the 'best defenders in the world'

Carles Puyol has earned the right to be a legend at Barcelona. So, the 2010 World Cup winner has no problem talking about his former team in different events and, this time, he gave an interview to the Uruguayan newspaper ‘Ovacion’.

Undoubtedly, one of the obligatory questions was about Ronald Araujo, who is still out of his coach's plans due to injury: "For me he is a very good player. He is one of the best defenders in the world. I think everyone has to make their own career, but we can have similarities in terms of the game".

Puyol was also asked about another famous Uruguayan, Luis Suarez: "We crossed paths with Luis because I was in the sporting directorate for a few months, but then I decided to leave. I didn't have much connection with the dressing room because once I left the first team I didn't want to go back to the dressing room because I believe and understand that it's a place for the players. I always had a lot of respect for that when I was a professional player and once I retired I still have the same idea because the dressing room belongs to the players. Obviously, when I was at the club in another role I was invited to join, but I'm not there much. The dressing room is sacred, with rules that are already in place and people understand that".

He did not hesitate to praise him: "Luis left us many titles. He is a great player who had a connection with incredible players. The worst thing for me is not having been able to enjoy him as a team-mate, because I'm sure we would have got on very well. I identify a lot with his way of understanding the sport and the truth is that I congratulate him on the career he has had. And he is still winning trophies".