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Arsenal Targets Maxi Araujo; Sporting Demands €50 million

4/26/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Arsenal Football Club have opened talks with Sporting Clube de Portugal about left-back Maxi Araujo, a 26-year-old Uruguayan.
Sporting paid £13 million for Araujo in 2024 and will only consider offers exceeding €50 million (£43 million).
Manchester United, Manchester City and Atletico Madrid are also interested, creating competition for Arsenal.
Arsenal’s approach marks a potential summer move, though any deal is unlikely to be straightforward.

History

Historical Context

In 2003 Sporting CP sold 18-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo to Manchester United for £12 million, a landmark transfer that raised Sporting’s bargaining power. That legacy underpins Sporting’s high asking price for left-back Maxi Araujo, as Premier League clubs Arsenal and Manchester City and Atletico Madrid compete for his signature, underscoring the Portuguese talent pipeline begun by Ronaldo.

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Story summary

Arsenal Football Club have opened talks with Sporting Clube de Portugal about left-back Maxi Araujo, a 26-year-old Uruguayan.
Sporting paid £13 million for Araujo in 2024 and will only consider offers exceeding €50 million (£43 million).
Manchester United, Manchester City and Atletico Madrid are also interested, creating competition for Arsenal.
Arsenal’s approach marks a potential summer move, though any deal is unlikely to be straightforward.

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