Szczesny conditions his arrival at Barça: Hansi Flick will have the last word

The FC Barcelona board has opted for Wojciech Szczesny to cover the loss of Marc-André ter Stegen for the rest of 2024/25. Due to quality, experience and low cost, the Pole is the best alternative for the club and Hansi Flick would have already given the 'ok' to his signing, but the former Arsenal, Roma and Juventus player is still not clear about his future in the team. Barça player, although some local media assumed his arrival at the club this Thursday to undergo a medical examination.

According to information leaked by the program 'Qué t'hi jugues' on SER Catalunya, Szczesny would have opened up, via telephone, with his compatriot Robert Lewandowski about his desire to play for Barça. Although the '1' of the Polish national team is willing to take on the challenge of defending the culé goal, he asks the club for guarantees before signing for one year. Although the player from Warsaw is without a team, he does not want to take risks in the short term, beyond the fact that it is a great opportunity.

Szczesny conditions his arrival at Barça: Ownership or nothing

In that sense, the 34-year-old goalkeeper would have made it clear to Lewandowski that he will only sign for Barça if Flick has him as a starter for the rest of the season. Wojciech was indisputable in Arsenal's goal since the 2011/12 season and was also a starter for both Roma and Juventus, although in his first season in the 'Vecchia Signora' (2017/18) he only played 21 games. being a substitute for Gianluigi Buffon.

In principle, Barça would sign Szczesny to have a goalkeeper with the necessary hierarchy to cover the loss of Ter Stegen, but this does not mean condemning Iñaki Peña to the bench. The German coach has the youth player and will opt for whoever shows the best form in training and, in his first test against Getafe, the one from Alicante showed the conditions to be the holder of the culé goal for the rest of the season. Not in vain, Deco himself would have guaranteed his prominence during the preseason if, as in 2023/24, Marc-André suffered a physical problem.

The Champions League will not be a problem for Szczesny at Barça

Iñaki played 17 games last season in all competitions, with a total of 32 goals conceded and only 3 clean sheets. The Polish international, for his part, said goodbye to Juventus, receiving 30 goals in 35 games in Serie A, with 15 clean sheets. Another key factor for the Warsaw player has to do with the possibility of playing in the Champions League, something that Barça has covered.

And, in its A list of those called up for the tournament, the club only registered Ter Stegen and Peña, while Astralaga and Kochen appear on list B. With the German's withdrawal, the club frees up a place to register another goalkeeper without restriction. As it is, Hansi Flick will have the final say regarding the signing of Szczesny. If the coach guarantees him ownership in both the League and the Champions League, the operation can be closed shortly. Otherwise, Barça will have to look for another alternative as soon as possible.