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Hansi Flick has said Barcelona were unable to “include” Ronald Araujo in the way the German coach had intended, with the defender now closing in on a loan move to Liverpool.

Liverpool are currently short at the back, with right-back Conor Bradley and centre-backs Giovanni Leoni and Joe Gomez sidelined through injury, so the Uruguay international’s expected arrival comes at an important moment.

Although Araujo is naturally a centre-back, reports indicate Liverpool — who hold an option to buy him next summer for £47m — believe the 27-year-old is also capable of providing cover at right-back.

Even though he finished last season as Barcelona’s club captain, Araujo started only 11 La Liga matches. During the middle of the season, he also stepped away for a month to focus on his mental health.

That came only days after he was sent off in the first half of Barcelona’s 3-0 Champions League defeat to Chelsea in late November — an incident that appeared to be the breaking point for the Uruguayan defender.

Looking back on that month away, he said in February, “In the moment, with the adrenaline rush, you just go for it.

“You feel sad, but then, when the game is over, it all comes crashing down on you. I already felt like I wasn’t okay, that’s the truth, but out of habit you try to keep going, and sometimes you need help.

“I’d been dealing with anxiety for a year and a half that turned into depression, and I was playing like that. That doesn’t help, because on the field you don’t really feel like yourself.

“You know your worth and what you can contribute on the field, and when I wasn’t feeling well, I knew something was wrong. That day I realised that was it, that I needed to talk to professionals and the club so they could help me.”

Flick made it clear that he still rates Araujo highly and spoke positively about his pace, athletic ability and physical strength.

Even so, the Barcelona manager appears comfortable with allowing his former captain to join Liverpool, a move Araujo is said to be “very happy” about.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Flick said, “I think Ronald is a great guy and a fantastic player. I think our style of play, that we want to play, is a little bit different. He’s a player that has a lot of speed, he’s physical and very strong and also with the ball he’s quite good.

“We couldn’t include him like I wanted and also I think he wants to make something new. You know it more than me because in the past, something has happened, so this affected him.

“I saw him this morning and I said goodbye and I think he was very happy and Liverpool is also a fantastic club. I wish him all the best because he deserves it. He’s a fantastic guy and fantastic player and was a great captain.”

Whether he will now be able to prove just how “fantastic” he is at Liverpool is something that will become clear in time.