Troy Deeney admits he made a mistake when he labelled Ronald Araujo a ‘desperate signing’ for Liverpool, having been thoroughly impressed by the defender.
The 27-year-old moved to Anfield on loan from Barcelona over the summer and has quickly settled into Andoni Iraola’s new-look side.
The Uruguayan has played 11 times in a Liverpool shirt and has popped up with two goals, including in the entertaining 4-3 win over Villarreal in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Araujo has been slotting in at right-back, despite preferring a spot in the centre of defence, but has looked good.
Get personalised updates on your favourite club
Sign up to our daily football newsletter, pick your team and get the latest news sent directly to your inbox every morning.
Deeney has certainly liked what he has seen and has dramatically changed his opinion on a player he wasn’t sure would fit in at Liverpool.
‘I have to give him credit, and I also have to pull myself up because I like to consider myself a fair individual,’ the former Watford captain said on CBS Sports.
‘At the start of the season, when they signed him, I thought it was a desperate signing. I’d seen him at Barcelona, and again, he’s very aggressive, very front-footed, I didn’t know whether his style of play would adjust to what Liverpool are trying to do.
‘But since he’s been in at right-back, he has been amazing. Him and [Jeremy] Jacquet, they’ve been the best two players, by far.
‘He’s so big, strong, powerful, understanding of the game, he reads it really well, obviously offers them playing at right-back but also can play at centre-half when needed. I’ve been really, really impressed.
‘He gives a calming influence which is really strange. Anyone who watched Barcelona last year, he didn’t give that because of the way Barcelona were playing, and obviously you can only judge based on what you’ve seen.
‘So I owe him an apology. Very, very good, very impressive so far this season.’
The Uruguay international had been with Barcelona since 2018, so moving to England for the first time was a big change and the first in a long time.
However, he is loving life on Merseyside, praising the welcome he has received at the club.
‘Honestly, it’s been great,’ Araújo told Cadena Ser on his summer switch. ‘I’m very, very happy, both with the win and with how well I’ve settled in.
‘I was genuinely blown away by the people at the club, and I’m just really happy to be playing, which was the most important thing.’
He added: ‘I definitely needed that change. I was very clear about it; when the season ended and we headed to the World Cup, it was a decision I felt very sure of.
‘I spoke with the club, with [Barcelona sporting director] Deco, and with the manager, and they made it very easy for me.
‘They helped me a lot. I think that here I’m finding what I needed, which was to play, to feel important, and to showcase my style of football.’