FC Barcelona club captain Marc-Andre Ter Stegen is unlikely to play for the club again this season. Even if he were to miraculously recover and return from the injury, it would only be for the last month or so, and the club has understandably looked at replacements.
Ter Stegen suffered a patellar tendon tear against Villarreal and has since undergone surgery. Barcelona have since made a move to sign a replacement for him with retired goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny the chosen man for the job.
According to MARCA, the Polish veteran shot-stopper has arrived in Barcelona this morning by flight from Malaga. He will undergo his medicals in the club training facilities before signing a short-term contract with the club.
This is set to be the 34-year-old’s comeback stint following his retirement from professional football after being told that he was surplus to requirements at Juventus. This gives Szczęsny a chance to reunite with national hero Robert Lewandowski.
Despite signing for the club, Szczęsny is unexpected to be available for selection until after the international break. With no pre-season or formal training behind him, the veteran needs to get up to speed with the demands of modern football.
Currently, Inaki Pena has assumed the role in-between the sticks. After an impressive display against Getafe, Pena conceded four to Osasuna in what was Barcelona’s worst game under Hansi Flick by a large extent.
To be fair to the Spanish shot-stopper though, he was let down by an inexperienced backline against Osasuna, and conceding those goals wasn’t really his fault. Pena will get a chance until Szczęsny is ready to make his debut.
Once football resumes after the October international break, it remains to be seen whether Pena or Szczęsny get the nod as the first-choice goalkeeper for the season ahead. Let’s wait and see how it goes.