Spanish media reports confirm that Barcelona is actively searching for a replacement for Marc-André ter Stegen, who will be sidelined for at least eight months. Although the club trusts Iñaki Peña, they feel it’s necessary to bolster their goalkeeping options, especially with younger alternatives like 20-year-old Astralaga and 18-year-old Cochin, in case Peña faces any issues.
According to the Catalan newspaper “Sport,” following a training session before the match against Getafe, the sports management team—including sporting director Deco, coach Hansi Flick, and deputy sporting director Bojan Krkic—met to assess their options.
They discussed whether to sign a goalkeeper now, given the constraints of the transfer market, where they can only sign a free agent, or to wait until January. Their focus narrowed to two experienced goalkeepers: 34-year-old Wojciech Szczesny, who played for Juventus last season but retired last summer, and 37-year-old Keylor Navas, who terminated his contract with Paris Saint-Germain after a loan at Nottingham. Both have significant experience and could deliver immediate results, which is crucial for Barcelona.
Barcelona has reached out to both goalkeepers, and they are open to joining the team until June 30th for a minimal fee. If it were up to coach Hansi Flick, his preferred choice would be Szczesny, who played for Poland in last summer’s European Cup and has a strong friendship with Robert Lewandowski, aiding his transition to the team.
Amid ongoing talks, reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano reported that Szczesny has come out of retirement and is set to become Barcelona’s new goalkeeper soon. He mentioned that the announcement could happen within hours after Szczesny completes a medical examination in Barcelona.
Hansi Flick believes Szczesny’s elite experience is crucial to fill the void left by Ter Stegen’s absence, making him a solid addition for the club.
