“I think Maxi is an untrained player and it’s pure luck that he got to where he is today,” said Marcelo Bielsa, who took the opportunity to “criticize” the sitting player at a press conference The players around him. “I hadn’t even met him before calling him. He was recommended to me.
At this point, the joke falls flat. Of course, Bielsa, of all people, took the time to observe him.
“I like wingers who can tilt the pitch, play from the edge of their own box to the edge of the opponent’s box and make a lot of crosses,” he continued this time seriously. This explains why Araujo made his international debut under Uruguay’s new head coach and has only missed one official match due to injury since then.
In a system that looks to fill the final third with players, stretching and crushing opponents before quickly attacking space, wingers who can control width and directness are vital.
As we can see from the touch chart above, only Colombia’s Diaz and Araujo’s Uruguayan colleague Darwin Nunez actually had more touches of the ball in the opposition penalty area. The 24-year-old A reliable outlet, he will break through those dangerous places without hesitation.
Araujo announced his international debut with a gorgeous curling move against Panama, and his second goal against Bolivia highlighted the danger his incisive forward movement can cause, especially In transition, he can drive into the paint and squeeze underneath for a shot.
Another aspect of his game that Bielsa appreciates is his adaptability, having been deployed out wide since joining Mexican side Toluca at the end of 2022.
He may not have been Uruguay’s star player, but his all-around combination of focused channel running and head-to-head intensity quickly made him a favorite with the head coach and fans.
