Mental health forms a crucial aspect of every individual's life. Regrettably, the sporting world has also grappled with these issues, and FC Barcelona player Ronald Araujo recently shared his personal experience. The Uruguayan defender opened up in an interview with 'Mundo Deportivo'.

“I feel really good, honestly. I felt very comfortable out there and I think I played a good game. I also managed to contribute with a goal, which was great for me. Physically, I felt strong too. Towards the end, I was obviously tired because I hadn't played so many minutes for a long time, but overall, I'm very, very happy,” he began.

The defender recounted the difficult period: “I already felt something wasn't right, that's the truth, but by inertia, you try to keep going, and sometimes you need help. I had been struggling with anxiety for a year and a half, which then developed into depression, and I was playing while feeling like that. It doesn't help, because on the pitch, you don't feel like yourself. You know your own worth and what you can contribute, and not feeling well, I knew something was wrong. That day, I realised it was enough; I needed to speak with professionals and the club so they could help me.”

The Uruguayan addressed his sending-off at Stamford Bridge: “I hadn't been well for a long time, perhaps more than a year and a half, I just didn't feel right. You try to be strong, perhaps because of your roots, where you come from, you push forward, but I felt something was off. Not just in my sport, but also in my family and personal life. I wasn't feeling like myself, and that moment was when I clicked and said, 'something is happening, I need to raise my hand and ask for help'. I'm one of those who keeps everything to myself, but you also have to understand that there are professionals who can help you, give you tools to know how to handle certain situations... I needed to raise my hand and say something was happening to me so I could recover.”

“I felt that the worst had passed, and now I see things differently. The time I took off was for a reason, because ultimately, I was able to work through it with professionals, as well as with my family and spiritually, which was what I needed. So, I believe that did me a lot of good, and today I feel like a completely different person,” stated Araujo.

Finally, Araujo offered a reflection on the life of a famous footballer: “Ultimately, we are people beyond just being footballers. It's not all about money, not all about fame. We also suffer because of things that happen on the pitch. Yes, we are fortunate to do what we do, but there's the person, there are feelings. I'm grateful to the people because I saw so much support during the time I decided to stop, and that helps. We must understand that, beyond being footballers, we are people.”

Ronald Araujo

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