Barça is the brand new La Liga champion after a spectacular comeback in 2025 to catch up with and overtake Real Madrid. Hansi Flick’s team is undefeated in domestic competition so far this year, a feat that has led them to glory and has been sustained by great teamwork, with everyone contributing beyond the big names.
The Barcelona team has had some tough times, such as the long-term absence of captain Marc André Ter-Stegen, but it has always found the perfect alternative in a highly motivated squad that, while needing the magic of its key players at specific moments, has performed above and beyond expectations.
Szczesny: from strength to strength
One of the key names throughout the season has been Szczesny, who arrived after retiring to be Iñaki Peña’s backup but has since secured the starting spot and earned the affection and recognition of the fans and his coach, who has stated on multiple occasions that he was the number one even before Ter Stegen’s return from injury.
Since Hansi Flick decided to put him in the position, his performance seemed to have no limits, with his appearances in games resulting in victories and accumulating clean sheets. The 22-game unbeaten streak was broken in the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Borussia Dortmund, where the team suffered its first defeat in 2025, which seemed to mark a turning point in the Polish goalkeeper’s performance.
In the final stretch of the competition, Barça conceded too many goals in several important matches, which they managed to counteract with their great offensive capacity. Szczesny has shown moments of weakness in this stage of the competition with set pieces and crosses into the box. This slight dip in form has coincided with the return of Ter Stegen, although the coach has never doubted who to put between the sticks.
A renewal that has not materialized
Deco, sporting director at FC Barcelona, has all but confirmed that Polish goalkeeper Tek Szczesny will remain at the club when his contract expires on June 30. “He is a very experienced goalkeeper. When we had the opportunity to sign him, one of those coincidences in football, he was retired and still had a contract with Juventus. We knew he had a lot to offer, but the credit goes to the player and the coach. We do our job and they are the ones who push. We are happy with him and he will surely continue with us,” he admitted.
Nothing has been finalized yet, and the goalkeeper has been enigmatic in recent weeks when talking about his future, saying that he is at the end of his career and that we will see what happens when the season ends. Given the uncertainty, Barça is already planning for next year’s goalkeeping situation, considering all possibilities.
Barça’s plans
If the renewal does not go ahead, and given the more than likely departure of Iñaki Peña, Barça would have to turn to the market to find a replacement for Ter Stegen for next season. According to Sport, the Azulgranas will opt for a youth player given their limited financial fair play. It could be Diego Kochen (19), Basque Ander Astralaga (21), or Hungarian Áron Yaakobishvili (19).
Also, out of their financial reach but on the wish list is Joan García, Espanyol’s goalkeeper, who has powerful suitors such as Real Madrid and Arsenal. Also on the list is Lucas Chevalier, who has a contract with Lille until 2027, and Barça already knows that his price will not drop below $40 million. There is also Bart Verbruggen who, like the others, is too expensive for the Catalan club.