FC Barcelona received a significant blow in the 5-1 win over Villarreal as their starting goalkeeper Marc Andre Ter Stegen tore his patellar tendon. The German had to undergo surgery to recover from this issue and is expected to remain out of action for around 8 months.
To replace him, Barcelona have signed the former Juventus goalkeeper, Wojciech Szczesny, who came out of retirement to play for the Catalan club. The Polish shot-stopper is already training under Flick and was also registered with La Liga today. He was also expected to be named in the squad for the Deportivo Alavés game, but he is not a part of this list published by the club.
Meanwhile, Hansi Flick talked to the press ahead of this game, and as Mundo Deportivo has reported, Szczesny was one of the subjects that he addressed.
The German tactician shared his thoughts on the Polish goalkeeper, explained the decision not to include him in the squad for the Alavés clash, and revealed when he is expected to be ready to play for the Catalans:
“He’s in great shape, with his experience and quality. Having Szczesny is good for the club. When I spoke with him, he seemed like a very friendly person. He said he would contribute in any way to the team, but unfortunately, he needs more time to be with us. After the break, he’ll be ready.”
Recent reports suggest that the goalkeeper has showcased more impressive fitness levels in training sessions than expected, despite not having played professionally for several months following his retirement after UEFA EURO 2024.
Now, Flick has also confirmed that Szczesny is in good shape. However, with the international break starting after the game against Alavés, the 34-year-old goalkeeper will only get the chance to play for Barcelona after the break. Even then, it’s not guaranteed, as he will have to compete with Iñaki Peña for the starting spot.
