Seeing Ronald Araujo with the South American drink known as Mate is becoming a regularity around Liverpool.
Those close to the 27-year-old say that true to his Uruguayan heritage, he takes the caffeinated beverage – made by steeping dry leaves in warm water – wherever he goes.
The sight of defender Araujo in Liverpool‘s starting line-up is also becoming the norm this season.
For all the focus on Liverpool‘s big-money signings, it is the one they got on loan that is increasingly looking like one of their most important deals.
Since arriving on a season-long loan from Barcelona, Araujo has started eight of Liverpool‘s 10 games under Andoni Iraola, with six of those appearances coming at right-back and four at centre-back.
Last week, he scored his first Liverpool goal with a header against LASK and there was a backheel assist for Dominik Szoboszlai against Atletico Madrid.
With Conor Bradley out since January with a knee injury and Jeremie Frimpong now sidelined until the November international break with a muscle injury, Araujo, who is taking English lessons, is seizing the chance to showcase the versatility and experience that attracted Liverpool to him.
“I came from a big side, as is Liverpool. I think people here, it’s almost like they are more intense when you go down the street, when you go out to the centre of Liverpool, or when you go out to eat something. But that’s lovely. You see how they experience football themselves,” Araujo said on Monday.
“I am really happy here. My family is very happy and that’s also very important. I’m just really hungry to go on this season and give the best I can of myself and continue to learn and grow as a player. I’m having that game time and that’s what I want and then we’ll see what happens and what I want for the future.”
At Barcelona last season, Araujo was granted a leave of absence to prioritise his mental health and the move to England in the summer felt like one that suited all parties – even if he was initially seen as a stopgap solution for Liverpool
Araujo, who has 29 caps for Uruguay, took a wage cut and Liverpool have an option to buy him in the summer for £47m.
It is a hefty sum and remains an unlikely outcome, but the understanding for now is that Araujo is just happy to show his qualities to everyone once again.
“It’s very early to talk about these things,” he said, when asked about his future.
“I’m just trying to enjoy every day and continue to develop and to play and to give what’s required of me to have that confidence. I’m really happy to be here but it’s a bit early to be talking about those things.”
