FC Barcelona have now made a key step in replacing the now injured Marc-Andre Ter Stegen. After the German goalkeeper’s unfortunate injury this season, he is expected to be sidelined for the remainder of it. Fortunately for Barcelona, it seems that they have found the man to cover his absence.
That man is none other than 34-year-old Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny. After having retired this very year, the Pole has decided to cut his vacation short and join up with Barcelona for the remainder of this campaign with the hopes of replacing Ter Stegen and competing with Inaki Pena.
Barcelona have already made his signing official just today, as he met with Joan Laporta in the club offices to sign his new contract which is expected to be valid until the end of this season. While it is just a short-term contract, it does not neglect the dedication that Szczesny plans on bringing with him.
As revealed by the player in his first personal post for the Barcelona fans on the club’s official account, his thirteen-word message makes it clear that his intention is to give his all for the club:
“Hi, I am very proud to be a Barcelona player. Visca el Barça!”
Formerly a player for both Juventus and Arsenal, the player undoubtedly has a lot of experience at the top level of European football. Barcelona, however, will be an entirely new experience for him and one that will arguably test the limits of his own quality given the expectations that the club has.
For now, it is expected that his arrival will give a lot of competition to Inaki Pena for the starting spot. Instead of letting the Spaniard believe that his position will never be challenged, the arrival of the Polish goalkeeper ensures that Hansi Flick has enough depth to make sure that Pena always feels the need to be at his own best as well.
