Ronald Araujo has finally given an interview to Mundo Deportivo, where he spoke openly about all the mental health problems he has faced.
It all started after Araujo received a red card in the Champions League match against Chelsea in November, with Barcelona losing the match 3-0.
"At that moment, with the adrenaline of the match, you just act. You feel sad, but when the match ends, everything falls on your shoulders."
"The truth is that I already felt that I was not well, but out of habit you try to keep going, and sometimes you need help," he told Sports world.
"For a year and a half I've been dealing with anxiety, which turned into depression, and I was playing in that state. It doesn't help, because on the pitch you don't really feel like yourself."
"You know your worth and what you can contribute on the field, and when I didn't feel good, I knew something was wrong."
"That day I realized that the end had come, that I had to talk to professionals and the club to help me."
Araujo visited Israel in search of spiritual guidance while away from Barcelona and has revealed why he needed to take a break from football.
"Things have changed a lot, because I've learned a lot during this time. I think it was the right thing to do after that decision I made."
"I feel different and I'm happy about it, because I'm calmer, happier. I can enjoy what I want to do, which is play football, and that helps me a lot," he added.
"The time I took away was for a reason, because in the end I was able to cope with everything professionally, with my family and in the spiritual aspect, which was what I needed."
"So I think that did me a lot of good and today I feel like a completely different person," the Uruguayan concluded.Telegrafi/
