Szczęsny poised for Barcelona move amid injury crisis
The Spanish press reports that Wojciech Szczęsny, who dreamed of watching El Clasico, may now find himself there as Barcelona's goalkeeper. The popular website El Chiringuito reported last night that the Polish goalkeeper said "yes" and could join Robert Lewandowski at the club as a teammate.
"Szczęsny or Navas?" asks the Catalan newspaper "Sport" on the front page of its Wednesday edition. The 34-year-old Pole and the 37-year-old Costa Rican, who has previously played for Real Madrid, are considered the main options to replace the seriously injured Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
The popular Spanish programme "El Chiringuito" reported that Szczęsny said "yes" to Barcelona and will become a player for the Catalan club next week. However, other Spanish media outlets are holding back information about this matter.
The matter started as a joke but has turned into a serious topic, comments the sports website Relevo on Szczęsny's case. The goalkeeper is only two years older than Ter Stegen, which makes him "one of the best options" for Barcelona.
Clause with Juventus may block Szczęsny's transfer
The Spanish press wrote on Tuesday that the Catalan club is working on bringing in an "experienced goalkeeper from Poland," who announced the end of his football career at the end of August.
There are many matches that I would like to see and I will now have the time to fulfil those dreams. I am firmly convinced that I will be at El Clasico this year — said Szczęsny right after hanging up his boots. Now the Polish goalkeeper may play in it, adds "Mundo Deportivo".
According to the newspaper "Sport", even if Szczęsny decides to come out of retirement and help Barcelona, he will not automatically be the first-choice goalkeeper – he will have to earn it. Xavi's first choice is Inaki Pena.
Barca believes that Szczęsny is the ideal candidate to replace ter Stegen, even despite his few weeks of absence. "He is an experienced, skilled goalkeeper who knows exactly what the club wants," writes the Catalan website El Nacional.
The Spanish media also mention a problematic clause that Szczęsny signed with Juventus—if he joins a new club within a short period, the goalkeeper will have to pay his last club.
Barcelona is not in the mood to spend large sums of money, so Szczęsny will have to talk with Juventus, summarised El Nacional.
