Atlanta United will sell winger Luis Araujo to Brazilian club Flamengo, the team announced Thursday. Sources involved in the negotiations confirmed that Flamengo would pay Araujo $10 million, including his full salary. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution was the first to report details of the deal.
Here’s what you should know:
- Araujo, 26, joined Atlanta in August 2021 from French champions OSC Lille on a designated player deal. He signed for $9.5 million, which could increase by $2 million if he hits certain performance targets. The Athletic Previously reported.
- He is the club’s highest-paid player, ranked eighth in the league, with an annual salary of nearly $4.5 million.
- Araujo will remain in Atlanta until June 24, when he faces the New York Red Bulls.
The AthleticInstant analysis of:
Is this a good deal for Atlanta United?
Araujo signed a $12 million deal for 2021, but it wasn’t worth the transfer fee. Atlanta United have managed to secure a similar reward with the sale of Araujo to Flamengo. In that sense, it’s a good deal overall. Atlanta currently has a designated player slot available to fill over the summer. The roster clearly needs his dynamic 1-on-1 player. With that assessment in hand, Atlanta United’s front office can make more informed decisions to strengthen its current squad. — Cardenas
What’s next for Atlanta United?
Decision time has come for Atlanta. The team is well positioned in the Eastern Conference, but its volatility makes it clear that it is not yet a true contender for the MLS Cup. CEO Garth Lagerway and technical director Carlos Bocanegra must decide whether to try to secure a home-run deal over the coming summer period, or whether to bolster the team at multiple positions both in and out of MLS. be. Perhaps selling Araujo now and signing a proven attacking talent will dampen Thiago Armada’s desire to leave in the summer. That’s an interesting scenario. — Cardenas
What does this mean for Araujo?
Araujo’s MLS adventure comes to an abrupt end, but he will now be playing for one of the hemisphere’s biggest and best clubs. Flamengo are the absolute powerhouses of South America who are constantly competing for major trophies. A return to his native Brazil may be exactly what Araujo needs, but his home country’s attention goes far beyond MLS.
His goal against Colorado on Wednesday showcased Araujo’s skill set with a slalom run and clever finish. He also irritated Atlanta United fans, who expected such highlights from him on a regular basis. Araujo has a career in front of him. I’m interested to see if he can establish himself in a star-studded club like Flamengo. — Cardenas
back story
Araujo has scored 3 goals and assisted 2 out of 11 goals and 12 assists in 56 appearances for Atlanta this season. He made more than 100 appearances for Lille, often coming off the bench for the Ligue 1 champions. At Atlanta, Araujo played primarily as a right winger.
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(Photo: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire, Getty Images)
