Frank Christian
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has sent a cautionary message to their new signing, Wojciech Szczesny.
According to Catalan source Mundo Deportivo, the Polish goalkeeper has arrived in the city to finalize a free transfer to the team.
Although Szczesny won’t play in the UEFA Champions League match against Young Boys on October 1, he might be ready for the La Liga game against Alaves later that weekend.
The transfer agreement has been settled for a week, pending approval from La Liga to sign the former Arsenal goalkeeper for the remainder of the season.
Due to a season-ending injury to captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Barcelona has invoked a La Liga rule permitting them to acquire a goalkeeper outside the usual transfer window.
Szczesny’s contract runs through the end of the 2024/25 season, with a potential one-year extension, after the 34-year-old decided to return from retirement.
Nonetheless, Flick has indicated that Szczesny is not assured a starting position, as Inaki Pena has played the two matches since ter Stegen’s injury.
“I’m not discussing players who aren’t yet part of the team, but those who are at Barcelona cannot be promised a starting place,” he stated ahead of the match against Young Boys.
This commentary will be put to the test soon, as Szczesny has reportedly asked his former Polish teammate Robert Lewandowski about the likelihood of being the first-choice goalkeeper at Barcelona.
Pena is expected to start against Young Boys, and as Szczesny works on his match fitness, he might not debut until after the October international break.
