Goalkeeper comes out of retirement to play for Barcelona – 10/01/2024 – The World Is a Ball

Poland’s starting goalkeeper in the two most recent World Cups (Russia-2018 and Qatar-2022), Wojciech Szczesny (pronounced voitcher istéinsne), 34, decided to come out of retirement to play for Barcelona.

In the middle of this year, Juventus informed him that they no longer intended him to continue as a starter in the team, making room for Di Gregorio, 27, and the two sides reached an agreement for the number 1 to end his contract for one year. earlier than stipulated.

This way, Juventus would pay part of the salary owed to Szczesny, saving the rest (around 8 million euros, or R$48.5 million).

At the club since 2017, starter since 2018 – replacing the legendary Gigi Buffon and since then winning three Scudettos –, the Pole agreed and took the opportunity to announce the end of a career that began in 2009, at Arsenal, in England.

He also played for another English club, Brentford (2009 and 2010), and for the Italian club Roma (2015 to 2017), both on loan.

Last week, Szczesny changed his mind. He was invited by Barcelona to take up the starting position at the Spanish giants.

The blue and maroon team wanted an experienced goalkeeper to replace the German Ter Stegen, 32, in the Champions League and Spanish Championship, who suffered a serious knee injury against Villarreal, on the 22nd, and who is only expected to return to action in eight months. .

With the decision, Barça shows that they do not have the necessary confidence in Inãki Peña, 25, Ter Stegen’s immediate backup, who had inconsistent performances when called on last season.

The other options for the position are young Astralaga, 20, Yaakobishvili (Hungarian), 18, and Kochen (North American), 18.

A conversation with star Robert Lewandowski, the Catalan team’s starting center forward and a long-time teammate of the goalkeeper on the Polish national team, would have influenced Szczesny’s decision.

Considered a good penalty taker, Szczesny, who between club and country matches played more than 600 times, would undergo medical examinations this Monday (30) and, if no problems were detected, would sign a contract until May 2025.

His debut is scheduled for October 20th, against Sevilla, for Espanyol, after the championships stop for Data Fifa (national team games), which he would use to get in shape.

Szczesny’s return to goalkeeping activity, however, will not come for free.

In the agreement with Juventus, there is a fine of 2 million euros (R$12 million) if the Pole decides to wear the gloves professionally again, for another club. Knowing who will pay, the goalkeeper or Barça.

Szczesny’s total earnings for the period in Spain will be, according to the newspaper AS, 3 million euros.

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