Barcelona is facing a major goalkeeping problem this season. Their star goalkeeper, Marc-André ter Stegen, has picked up a serious injury and will be out for the entire season.
Ter Stegen's absence leaves a void that is difficult to fill, as he's been essential in the team's defense for years. Faced with this situation, Barcelona has had to reorganize its options in the goal. The club must look for alternatives that allow it to remain competitive in the league and in international competitions.
Iñaki Peña: the Substitute who's Earning Trust
At the moment, Iñaki Peña is in charge of defending the Barcelona goal. At first, there were doubts at the start of the season about his ability to take on this responsibility. However, Peña has shown that he's up to the challenge.
With his solid and confident performance, he's gained the trust of the fans and his teammates. As the season progresses, the belief that Peña can be a reference in the Barça goal grows, at least while Ter Stegen is absent.
Szczęsny, Laporta's Transfer who Has yet to Make His Debut
To reinforce the goal, Joan Laporta also arranged the transfer of the experienced Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny. However, so far, Szczęsny hasn't made his debut in the Barça jersey.
His arrival has caused expectations due to his experience in Serie A and international competitions, but he hasn't yet been able to prove his worth on the field. He's expected to make his debut soon, offering a quality alternative for the goal and adding competition in the position.
The Goalkeeper that Deco Wants for Barça
Despite having Peña and Szczęsny, Barcelona's sporting director Deco has set his sights on another goalkeeper: Joan García, the Espanyol goalkeeper.
At just 23, García has been performing well for Espanyol, attracting the attention of several teams, including Real Madrid. Deco, however, believes that Joan García could be the ideal replacement for Ter Stegen in the long term, thanks to his agility, security and leadership in the area.
García's arrival at Barcelona wouldn't only benefit the team, which needs a stable goalkeeping solution, but also the player himself. At 23, Joan García could move forward in his career by joining a team with international projection, gaining experience at the highest level.
The Economic Challenge
Barça, however, faces a significant challenge on the financial side. Due to current financial constraints, the team will have to make a competitive but moderate offer to sign Joan García. Although Espanyol could be open to negotiations, their goalkeeper has a five-year contract, and his transfer could be worth around 10 million euros.
This economic challenge forces Barcelona to be strategic in its decisions. The team can't afford financial mistakes, so the transfer of García will depend largely on the negotiating skills of Deco and the board.