Ronald Araújo is convinced his loan move to Liverpool from Barcelona was what he needed.
The Uruguay defender has scored two goals in 11 appearance for the Reds, including one in Liverpool’s 4-3 win over Villarreal in the Champions League on Tuesday.
“Honestly, it’s been great,” Araújo told Cadena Ser after Tuesday’s game when asked about his summer move to England. “I’m very, very happy, both with the win and with how well I’ve settled in.
“I was genuinely blown away by the people at the club, and I’m just really happy to be playing, which was the most important thing.”
Araújo said is certain he made the right choice by joining Liverpool. Liverpool have a £47.2 million ($62.8m) option to make his signing permanent at the end of the campaign.
“Yes, I definitely needed that change,” he said. “I was very clear about it; when the season ended and we headed to the World Cup, it was a decision I felt very sure of. I spoke with the club [Barcelona,] with [Barcelona sporting director] Deco, and with the manager, and they made it very easy for me.
“They helped me a lot. I think that here I’m finding what I needed, which was to play, to feel important, and to showcase my style of football.”
Araújo has impressed playing at both right-back and centre-back under Andoni Iraola.
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On playing more as a right-back at Liverpool, Araújo said: “They [Barcelona] used to put me there in the Clásicos and I had to face some really quick wingers.”
Among those he faced in LaLiga was Real Madrid‘s Vinícius Júnior.
“I’ve always had a lot of respect for Vinícius,” he said. “Our duels were always great and, at the end of the day, you grow as a player when you come up against players like that.
“It’s true that I feel more like playing as a centre-back — but this position is going to help me a great deal looking ahead to the future.”
Next up, Liverpool face high-flying Brighton in the Premier League.
