The Uruguay international helped Barca win La Liga in three of the past four seasons, and ended last campaign as club captain, but Gerard Martin and Pau Cubarsi have emerged as Hansi Flick's preferred central-defensive pairing.
"Three years ago, when Barcelona won the league under Xavi Hernandez, Araujo was a colossus," Romeo told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"He was phenomenal in defence and the best defender in La Liga by far.
"But then after he got injuries, a little bit of absent-mindedness, in some moments he lost concentration.
"If he can regain that, which is not impossible in my opinion, then he's going to be a very good asset for Liverpool.
"I think he can help, especially if he is playing alongside someone like Virgil van Dijk who can obviously make you a better player too."
Will Araujo be 'loan of the season' or 'Arthur Melo 2.0'?published at 18:41 BST 10 August
18:41 BST 10 August
Image source, Getty Images
We asked for your views on Ronald Araujo as the defender has joined Liverpool on a season-long loan from Barcelona.
Here are some of your comments:
Steve: No brainer. If he's from Barca, he can play. If he's from Uruguay, he will add the steel we have been lacking... and he can play right back.
James: Very happy! Definitely needed strengthening in centre. May have the odd mistake in him, but show me a centre back who is perfect throughout the entire season. Prove himself this year, then purchase for about £45m. Can then be the transition period covered between Virgil van Dijk and rise of the young CBs we already have on the books. Now we just need another Uruguayan to help him settle into the squad… Come home, Darwin!
Matt: Great move. We need some experienced defenders while we settle our new young defenders in. A year loan with an option to buy is perfect for this. Especially as he also plays right-back. We can see how the season goes, both with him and with the young players, then decide whether to sign permanently. I would like to see us sign one (or even two) more experienced, versatile defenders on a year loan with an option to buy. Then our lack of defensive options will finally be sorted.
Dan: He seems to get fairly frequently inured for periods of days or weeks. Maybe that's why he's not getting the games anymore and why he can't be the most suitable option out there.
Adrian: I think it's a sensible move on the part of the transfer team. Araujo may not have Premier League experience but he does have experience of playing at the highest levels of football. If he flunks this season, we send him back at a minimal loss and if he excels, we get a good international defender with a year of EPL experience for a decent price.
Mike: Araujo will be the loan of the season, mark my words.
Sukie: We are loaning a player who has a poor disciplinary record and gets injured a lot. At Barca - 30+ yellow cards and six red cards. He's had over 16 different injuries since 2020 at Barca. Missed roughly 20-25% of their games. He's still recovering from a calf muscle tear he got before the World Cup, so not match fit. Arthur Melo 2.0? The loan money should be spent elsewhere. In the meantime, Joe Gomez is injured, Giovanni Leoni and Jeremy Jacquet are still recovering/not match fit. CB/RB position is still a major concern.
Vardon: The Araujo move isn't a surprise from the perspective of Liverpool desperately needing reinforcement in their defense. Out of favour, and on a loan with no obligation to buy is good business sense, but his dramatic drop off in form at Barca is a concern. If he applies himself well it could be an excellent signing, but fans won't exactly be jumping for joy...
'The ideal move for me' - Araujopublished at 18:41 BST 10 August
18:41 BST 10 August
Image source, Getty Images
Ronald Araujo says his loan switch from Barcelona to Liverpool "was the ideal move for me at this stage in my career".
The Reds have snapped up Araujo - who can play at centre-back or right-back - on a season-long deal.
The 27-year-old said: "I can't wait to get started. I'm very, very happy.
"I'm excited to be here at this massive club with lots of history. I'm excited to meet my teammates, excited to get started playing, and I'm very motivated and really up for getting going.
"I think it was the ideal move for me at this stage in my career. I think it was a move that was necessary for me to take. As soon as I heard that interest from Liverpool, everything went into action really, really quickly.
"As I say, I'm super-happy to be here and excited to get started. I'm glad about the interest and it was the right move at the right time."
Uruguay international Araujo has played over 200 times for Barca, winning three La Liga titles in the process.
'Bezos deal distances me further from the club' - fan viewspublished at 17:10 BST 10 August
17:10 BST 10 August
Image source, Getty Images
A consortium including billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has advanced its talks to buy about a 30% stake in Liverpool, BBC Sport has been told, and we asked for you views on the news.
Here are a selection of your comments:
Mark: Big concern about this. Look at the state of Manchester United with the Glazers! We have been lucky with FSG as they have sports in their DNA as it were. Bezos and his investment buddies would only be interested in extracting returns, which worries me immensely.
Dan: Honestly? The Bezos deal just distances me further from the club. Football was meant to mean something. It's gradually become a vacuous franchise. I can't believe that in my relatively short life time, football has been hollowed out and sold to the highest bidder. When does it end? What more do the billionaire's need to satisfy their appetite? Unfortunately, as a passionate and dedicated Liverpool fan for 30 years, I think I might be out. The soul has gone.
James: Doesn't feel in keeping with the Spirit of Shankly - "The socialism I believe in is everyone working for each other, everyone having a share of the rewards. It's the way I see football, the way I see life."
Mark: Bezos' "brand" is not compatible with Liverpool FC. He shouldn't be allowed anywhere near our club.
Takeover talks advance - send your viewspublished at 14:29 BST 10 August
14:29 BST 10 August
Image source, Getty Images
A consortium including billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has advanced its talks to buy about a 30% stake in Liverpool, BBC Sport has been told.
The group is led by British-Indian millionaire businessman Amit Bhatia and also includes Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin.
Owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) confirmed last month that the group had "expressed interest in making a strategic minority investment in Liverpool Football Club".
Iraola style already clear to seepublished at 14:29 BST 10 August
14:29 BST 10 August
Umir Irfan Football tactics correspondent
Image source, Getty Images
Winning is important but, for many fans, how a team plays in the hunt for a win is almost as significant.
Many believe Andoni Iraola's style is more aligned with the 'heavy metal' football Anfield had come to love under Jurgen Klopp.
So how have Liverpool fared in their pre-season games so far under Iraola?
The Reds have beaten Sunderland and Wrexham in pre-season, but threw away two-goal leads in defeats by both Leeds and Monaco.
They averaged 60.6% possession over this small sample size - which is a 12.9% jump on Bournemouth's average possession under Iraola in the Premier League last season.
With teams more likely to sit deep against Liverpool, having lots of possession is a newer challenge Iraola has to tackle, and he has looked to do this while sticking to the intense and chaotic style that typified his previous sides.
Liverpool have looked to build up short at times with their goalkeeper, four defenders and one or two central midfielders deep.
Dominik Szoboszlai and Trey Nyoni - Liverpool's preferred deeper midfield duo in pre-season - drop to show for the ball, bouncing it towards wide players in space.
Iraola's sides have become known for fast and vertical counter-attacks but, with Liverpool looking to hold the ball more deliberately, these short passes in build-up are designed to entice opposition pressure before accelerating play.
Once a team have committed players to pressing Liverpool, Iraola's men look for forward passes readily - almost manufacturing their own counter-attacks.
If a team press immediately, Liverpool have been willing to skip short build-up play and go long from goalkeepers Alisson or Giorgi Mamardashvili early.
By simplifying the attacking game into two-v-two or three-v-three situations, Liverpool are hoping to have a repeatable and dynamic solution, resulting in crosses from dangerous positions close to goal.
As exciting as this style of play can appear though, it does leave Liverpool very top-heavy.
In the opening games, we have seen both full-backs join the attack alongside two of the midfield three and the front three. This can result in situations that leave only the two centre-backs and one holding midfielder positioned behind the ball.
Four pre-season games is a very small sample, but Iraola's stamp on Liverpool is already clear to see, featuring many of the same instructions that defined his Bournemouth side.
'It feels like a bit of a transition' - Van Dijkpublished at 12:01 BST 10 August
12:01 BST 10 August
Aadam Patel Liverpool reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Virgil van Dijk believes that even though there is change at Anfield with a new head coach in Andoni Iraola, the aim is still very much the same.
"It definitely feels like a bit of a transition, for sure," said Van Dijk, after Liverpool's 3-2 defeat to Monaco on Sunday. "It is down to everyone associated with Liverpool to make sure we are building something that will be successful for years to come.
"This year, we want to be successful, but there is a lot of work still to be done. We all know how difficult it is to be playing in the Premier League, the League Cup, the FA Cup, and the Champions League, so we need everyone at their best."
Van Dijk was granted an extended break after the World Cup, having played every minute of the Premier League last season and the 35-year-old chose not to go on Liverpool's pre-season tour of the USA, saying he felt that was the "best way" for himself.
"I definitely asked for a good break because I felt like I needed it, not only physically but mentally as well," said Van Dijk. "It was a very demanding year from before pre-season started last year until the day I got knocked out of the World Cup so I felt like I needed a good break and I had maybe three days more than Ryan (Gravenberch), Flo (Wirtz) and Alex (Isak).
"For me it was key I didn't want to go to America because I didn't want to get jet lag and after come back from that as well and I felt like having a couple of extra days at the AXA (training ground), doing the testing before the team was there and getting ready for when the team was back to immediately crack on. I felt that was personally the best way."
On his relationship with Iraola, Van Dijk added: "It has been absolutely fine, we had a great conversation in the first week when it got announced and the main thing for him to know is that I am here for him regardless, anything he needs, wants to know, wants me to do for the team or whatever, I am here for him and hopefully we will be successful this season and that's what we want."
Gossip: Liverpool face potential hijack for Barcola published at 08:13 BST 10 August
08:13 BST 10 August
Arsenal have made contact with Bradley Barcola's camp as they bid to hijack Liverpool's move to sign the France forward, 23, from Paris St-Germain. (Give Me Sport), external
Liverpool could open the door for Netherlands forward Cody Gakpo, 27, to join Tottenham if they secure one of their attacking targets. (Football Insider), external
Reds beaten by Monaco in Iraola's first game at Anfieldpublished at 18:17 BST 9 August
18:17 BST 9 August
Aadam Patel Liverpool reporter at Anfield
Image source, Getty Images
Andoni Iraola's first match in charge of Liverpool at Anfield ended with a 3-2 defeat to Monaco.
The Reds raced into a two-goal lead thanks to strikes from Alexander Isak and the brilliance of Florian Wirtz but the French side came from behind and scored a late winner through Paris Brunner.
Iraola's side were boosted by the return of Alisson, Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo to the starting XI as the trio featured for the first time since this summer's World Cup.
But there was no Curtis Jones, who was out as a precaution with a hip problem.
Liverpool conclude their pre-season campaign with a friendly against Como next Sunday (6pm BST) at Anfield. The clubs will also contest a game earlier that same day behind closed doors, kicking off at 12pm BST.
Liverpool pay tribute to Keegan before Monaco friendlypublished at 14:52 BST 9 August
14:52 BST 9 August
Image source, Getty Images
Before Saturday's pre-season friendly against Monaco at Anfield, the Liverpool players gathered around the centre circle for a minutes' applause to pay tribute to legendary figure Kevin Keegan.
Keegan, who played for the Reds between 1971 and 1977, died at the age of 75 in July.
Tributes to Keegan were also left by fans outside the ground.
Reds move for Araujo - what do you think?published at 12:25 BST 8 August
12:25 BST 8 August
Image source, Getty Images
Liverpool are close to signing Uruguay defender Ronald Araujo on a season-long loan from Barcelona.
The deal includes an option to buy Araujo, who is expected to have a medical on Sunday.
The 27-year-old centre-back has helped Barca win La Liga in three of the past four seasons, and ended last season as club captain.
Araujo is under contract until 2031 but only made 11 league starts last season, with Gerard Martin and Pau Cubarsi emerging as their preferred central defensive pairing.
What do you think of this business? Will is solve the needs Liverpool had at the back?
Image source, Getty Images
