Barcelona Targets Wojciech Szczesny Amid Ter Stegen Injury

Barcelona is reportedly in discussions with former Juventus goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny to address the recent injury setback of their first-choice keeper, Marc-André ter Stegen. Sources have confirmed to ESPN that talks are progressing, although no formal agreement has been reached. The Spanish club is considering Szczesny, who has been without a club since leaving Juventus earlier this year, to fill the role on a short-term basis.

Marc-André ter Stegen, Barcelona’s main goalkeeper, is expected to be sidelined for the remainder of the 2024-2025 season following a successful surgery on Monday. As a result, Barcelona is keen on securing an experienced goalkeeper to support Iñaki Peña, who has been deputizing in Ter Stegen’s absence. “Iñaki is our No.1,” expressed Barcelona manager Hansi Flick, following their 1-0 victory over Getafe. However, Flick acknowledged the need for experienced options, stating, “We have Iñaki who is 25, but if something happened, we also need experience. This is why we are talking about that.”

Szczesny, aged 34, left Juventus after a mutual agreement to terminate his contract a year early. This move followed unsuccessful negotiations for his transfer to Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr. Despite his previous declaration of retirement, the ex-Poland international indicated his willingness to consider Barcelona’s offer, citing the club’s history and its current challenging situation due to Ter Stegen’s injury. “I have a lot of respect for Barça’s history,” Szczesny remarked in a recent statement.

In light of Ter Stegen’s injury, LaLiga regulations permit Barcelona to sign a free agent outside the regular transfer window. This rule is being utilized by the club, which already has a precedent of maneuvering within LaLiga’s financial restrictions, having previously registered new players during the season due to player injuries.

Iñaki Peña, 25, has already taken over the goalkeeping duties in Ter Stegen’s absence and demonstrated his capabilities in recent matches. Flick reassured fans about Peña’s preparedness, saying, “Inaki Pena is totally ready to play. We have full confidence in him to play.” Yet, with younger backup options being relatively inexperienced or unavailable due to injuries, the addition of Szczesny could provide much-needed depth and security.

Throughout his career, Szczesny has amassed extensive experience, having made 252 appearances for Juventus and earned 84 caps for Poland. His professional journey includes tenures at Arsenal and Roma, alongside winning 11 major trophies. His consideration of coming out of retirement reflects the dynamic nature of Barcelona’s current situation and the potential for swift changes in player rosters when faced with unexpected injuries.