In the final round of the Champions League group stage, Barcelona drew with Atalanta, which ultimately prevented them from securing the top spot in their group, leaving them behind Liverpool. Despite some strong performances throughout the campaign, this draw ended their hopes of finishing first, and they finished in second place with 19 points.
According to Spanish newspaper “El Nacional,” Iñaki Peña’s situation at Barcelona has changed dramatically in just a few weeks. After becoming the starting goalkeeper due to Marc-André ter Stegen’s injury, Peña impressed with his performances and gained the trust of fans, showing he could be a reliable option. However, things took an unexpected turn with the arrival of Wojciech Szczęsny, who took over the starting position.
Hansi Flick’s decision to favor Szczęsny in recent matches has frustrated Peña, who believes his own performances deserved to keep him in the starting role. Having waited years for a chance to play regularly with the first team, Peña now feels his opportunities have greatly diminished.
Peña has already indicated that if his situation doesn’t change, he will seriously consider leaving Barcelona in the upcoming summer transfer window. His reasoning is clear: if he can’t secure a starting role even with Ter Stegen injured, he sees little chance of ever competing for the position in the future.
The newspaper also reported that Peña expressed his frustration in the dressing room following the Atalanta match, voicing his displeasure with Flick’s decision to prioritize a goalkeeper returning from retirement over him.
Although Peña is still training with the team, his frustration is apparent. Barcelona could risk losing a talented goalkeeper if they don’t handle the situation carefully. The future will likely become clearer next summer when Peña decides whether to stay at Camp Nou or pursue a new challenge.
