Iñaki Peña is facing a key moment in his career. The goalkeeper, who came up through La Masia, doesn't seem to be part of Flick's plans for next season, something that's been reflected in the Catalan club's planning. After Joan García's arrival and Szczesny's continuity, the goalkeeper has been relegated to a testimonial role within the squad.
During preseason, although he traveled with the team on the Asian tour, he didn't play any official minutes. In fact, he was behind Diego Kochen in the coach's preferences. He has a contract until 2026 and with no talks for a new contract, the most logical scenario for all parties would be to find an exit before the summer transfer window closes.
Negotiations stall
Although Barça have been working for weeks to facilitate his departure, the operation hasn't progressed at the desired pace. Initially, the club was asking for around €10 million for the transfer, a figure they later reduced to broaden the range of interested clubs. However, the obstacle now isn't the price, but the conditions the player is demanding to accept a new destination.
Peña is looking to keep at least the salary he's currently earning at Camp Nou, a requirement that several interested clubs haven't been able to match. This stance has caused concrete proposals to cool off and some teams to withdraw their interest definitively.
Opportunities slip away
One of the most serious offers was Celta de Vigo, which saw Peña as a reliable addition to strengthen its goalkeeping. However, the financial terms requested led the Galician side to opt for other alternatives in the market.
Something similar has happened with Como from Serie A, where Cesc Fàbregas plays a key role in the sporting direction. The Italian club, which has already added players from Barça in this window, showed interest in the goalkeeper. However, negotiations have stalled due to the impossibility of meeting his demands and the player's preference to be an undisputed starter.