Barcelona star Ronald Araujo has taken to social media to send an apology to Espanyol’s fans, players and staff alike, owing to a gesture made during the meeting between the two clubs on Sunday night.
The outburst in question came during the 2nd-half of action at the RCDE Stadium, on the touchline.
After being hauled off at the interval owing to an injury problem, Araujo was caught on camera in a heated back-and-forth with the home crowd.
The Uruguayan repeatedly made a ‘two’ gesture, before pointing downwards with his thumb, insinuating that Espanyol, despite their fine showing on Sunday, are headed towards relegation to the Spanish Segunda.
Ronald Araujo told the Espanyol bench to go down to the second division in yesterday’s derby 😯 pic.twitter.com/Swkz2w8pIx
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 14, 2022
Araujo, though, has evidently since come to the conclusion that, in the heat of battle, he allowed himself to get caught up in the moment.
In turn, taking to his official Instagram account on Monday, the stopper posted a heartfelt apology, revealing his regret with an ‘unfortunate gesture’, before admitting that he is ‘not proud’ of how things unfolded on the touchline:
📱| Araújo on IG: “I want to apologize to everyone at Espanyol for the unfortunate gesture I made tonight. It was because of the tension produced during today’s derby. I consider myself a respectful person with rival fans & clubs. I’m not proud of what happened.” #fcblive pic.twitter.com/BFpGtQ2DvQ
— BarçaTimes (@BarcaTimes) February 14, 2022
De Jong strikes late
Araujo’s outburst aside, those in attendance at the RCDE Stadium on Sunday were of course treated to a thrilling, all-action encounter.
Deep into injury-time, it appeared as though hosts Espanyol had done enough to bring an end to their long wait for a win over the club’s fiercest rivals, after strikes on the part of Sergi Darder and Raul de Tomas cancelled out Pedri’s early opener.
But a twist, as so often proves the case, remained in the tale, as Luuk de Jong emerged from the bench to nod home Adama Traore’s whipped delivery with a full six minutes of injury time on the clock, clinching a last-gasp point for Barca in the process:
Luuk de Jong equalises AT THE DEATH! 😱😱
Barca break Espanyol hearts late on in a thrilling derby 🔵🔴 pic.twitter.com/1bjM0t0hPZ
— Premier Sports (@PremierSportsTV) February 13, 2022
Chelsea & FC Barcelona vying it out for Serie A defender
Amid Barcelona interest, update on Franck Kessie’s future emerges
Source Link: Read more
