FC Barcelona have moved quickly in the market to cover the long-term loss of their starting goalkeeper, Marc-André ter Stegen, and have chosen an experienced goalkeeper to take his place. Wojciech Szczesny, a 34-year-old Polish international, will be in charge of defending the Blaugrana goal for the remainder of the season.
According to Polish journalist Łukasz Wiśniowski, Szczesny will arrive in Barcelona this Monday to undergo a medical examination and sign his contract, which will bind him to the Catalan club until the end of the campaign.
Szczesny had announced his retirement after the last Euro Cup, but given the call from Barcelona he has decided to put on the gloves again. The former Juventus player has had an outstanding career in European football, being a key player in teams such as Arsenal and the Turin team. However, after Poland’s elimination in the Euro Cup, the goalkeeper had chosen to move away from professional football.
The Polish goalkeeper will not be officially presented, but he will be next Tuesday at the Estadi Olímpic de Montjuïc to witness the duel between Barça and Young Boys of Switzerland, corresponding to the second day of the group stage of the Champions League. Although the veteran goalkeeper will be in Barcelona starting Monday, he will not be able to make his debut immediately, as he will need time to get physically ready after several months without football activity.
According to the sources mentioned by Wiśniowski, Szczesny would be available to make his debut for Barcelona after the next international break. This will give him the necessary time to resume the competitive rhythm and adapt to the demands of the team led by Xavi Hernández.
The signing of Szczesny is key to strengthening a position that has been weakened after the injury of Ter Stegen, who will be out for a long period. So far, Iñaki Peña has been in charge of defending the Blaugrana goal, keeping a clean sheet against Getafe, but conceding four goals in the recent league defeat against Osasuna.
With the arrival of Szczesny, Barcelona seeks to regain stability in goal and strengthen its team for the next important commitments, both in the League and in the Champions League. Now, eyes will be on his physical evolution and his adaptation to a team that relies on his vast experience to face the challenges of this season.
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