Barcelona has opted for a temporary solution to address the long-term absence of Marc-AndrĂ© ter Stegen, recently announcing the signing of Wojciech SzczÄsny as the goalkeeper for the remainder of the season. Hansi Flickâs lack of faith in Iñaki Peña’s abilities prompted this decision.
Despite his retirement a few weeks ago, Joan Laporta and Deco successfully persuaded SzczÄsny to return, giving him a chance to play at Camp Nou. His contract runs until June, after which he plans to retire again, stepping in to fill Ter Stegenâs role.
Reports from El Nacional suggest that Barcelona is considering the possibility of acquiring a new star goalkeeper next summer, especially given uncertainties about Ter Stegen’s ability to return to form after his serious injury.
In this context, Jorge Mendes has suggested Diogo Costa, the Porto goalkeeper, regarded as one of the best in the world. Costa boasts exceptional skills, has demonstrated his talent at a high level, and represented Portugal in the last European Championship.
He is known for his quick reflexes, agility, and ability to save penalties. However, securing his transfer won’t be easy, as his price is estimated at around 40 million euros. Nevertheless, he would be an ideal replacement for Ter Stegen, who might face increased competition for his position upon returning.
It’s worth noting that Mendes offered Costa to Barcelona in the summer of 2022 for 12 million euros, but the proposal was turned down by Laporta and Mateu Alemany. Now, if Barcelona wishes to acquire him, they would need to pay over three times that initial amount.
