Prudence reigns at FC Barcelona regarding Wojciech Szczesny's future in the goal. The experienced Polish goalkeeper joined the Catalan club with the mission of replacing Ter Stegen, and he has been doing so with professionalism and based on good performance. However, from the first day, he made it clear that his stay at Barça would be temporary, more akin to a specific mission than a long-term commitment.
With the end of the season around the corner, Szczesny is seriously considering the possibility of hanging up his gloves again. If Barça manages to close the season with an important title, the goalkeeper might feel that his cycle has been completed. In that scenario, the club would be forced to react quickly to not leave a key position uncovered.
The most favored candidate
A particular name is already strongly resonating in the club's offices, and it is Joan García. The young Espanyol goalkeeper has been one of the sensations of La Liga and emerges as one of the main options if Szczesny decides not to continue. At just 23 years old, he has delivered great performances that position him as a bet for the present and future.
Meanwhile, bringing in Joan García would be a strategic move for Barça. His profile fits with the club's philosophy: young, trained in the Spanish soccer environment, and with a notable margin for improvement. Additionally, he would arrive at a key moment, where the goalkeeping position needs a solid transition without losing guarantees under the posts.
Laporta has his priorities
Despite having alternatives, the club's first option is to convince Szczesny to stay one more year. Both Flick and the squad value his leadership, experience, and performance. The Pole has quickly adapted to the system and has replied with confidence in the most demanding moments of the season.
If he agrees to continue, Barça would keep its current duo with Ter Stegen as the starter and Szczesny as a top-level backup. But if he ultimately decides to retire, it will be necessary to speed up negotiations to secure a new signing before other clubs get ahead. Everything will depend on the decision Szczesny makes in the coming weeks.