Iñaki Peña has been left devastated. Hansi Flick has made the final decision: the best player will be in the goal, and that is none other than Szczęsny. Radio network RAC1 has revealed that the Pole is aiming to be a starter next Sunday against Sevilla. The match corresponds to matchday 10 of LaLiga.
Szczęsny has taken advantage of the recent international break to get back into shape after his retirement. The veteran goalkeeper's feelings couldn't be better and he is considered to be fully fit to be a starter. Hansi Flick is clear about it, the Pole is better than Iñaki Peña and will stand between the posts at Montjuic.
Hansi Flick is considering the possibility of alternating between both goalkeepers. The idea would be for Szczęsny and Iñaki Peña to share the games in all competitions, with the intention of ensuring that the youth-team player doesn't lose his clean sheet. However, the reality is that confidence in him is low and this will soon be officially confirmed.
Flick is Looking for a Goalkeeper for 2025
The reality is that Flick has little faith in Iñaki Peña. Szczęsny's arrival will only be for this season: If he has come out of retirement, it is only to be a starter for Barça. As soon as the campaign is over, it will be necessary to find Ter Stegen's replacement in the Barça goal. The truth is that he's already officially started the search.
Barcelona's roster includes three goalkeepers. The club knows that Szczęsny doesn't want to stay for another year, and that Iñaki Peña is not playing at the expected level.
AC Milan's current goalkeeper Mike Maignan is one of the best options to replace Ter Stegen. The Frenchman has proven to be one of the best goalkeepers in Europe. He has excelled both at both his ability to react and his leadership in the area. Mike Maignan has led Milan to compete at the highest level in Serie A and the Champions League, consolidating himself as a top-level goalkeeper.
Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa is one of the brightest prospects in European soccer. At 25, he's already the undisputed starter for his club and the Portuguese national team. Costa is characterized by his agility and ability to make decisive saves at key moments. This is something that has caught the attention of big clubs, including Barça.
Joan García, currently the RCD Espanyol goalkeeper, is another option that Barça has on their radar. Although less experienced than Maignan and Costa, García has shown that he has the potential to become a top-level goalkeeper. At just 23, he's already been a protagonist in several performances with Espanyol. There, he's shown his confidence between the posts and his good reading of the game.