The FC Barcelona goalkeeper is taking center stage in this summer’s transfer market. The departure of Iñaki Peña comes as no surprise, as it has been on the cards for some time given the ostracism the player has been subjected to due to the rise of Szczesny, who is yet to sign a one-year contract extension. However, what initially looked like a renewal to partner Ter Stegen has now become a renewal to partner Joan García while the club looks to offload its captain.
Joan García, a signing with high expectations
A few days ago, FC Barcelona made official the arrival of Joan García to its ranks. The opportunity arose to sign one of the best goalkeepers in LaLiga with great potential, and the Barça team did not think twice and decided to pay the €25 million release clause to free him from Espanyol. In principle, he has signed to be the first-choice goalkeeper, as he himself stated in a recent interview with the club’s media.
“When you’re in a team of this level, there has to be competition. It’s very healthy, it’s necessary. The daily demands make us all better. There’s a special connection between goalkeepers that you don’t find in other positions,” he reflected. “It’s the coach’s problem,” he added with a laugh.
Ter Stegen refuses to leave
Ter Stegen is in a tough spot. The arrival of Joan García has opened the door for the Barça captain to leave. After many months out with a serious injury and at the age of 33, the club has doubts about the level he can return to, and relations are tense as the German expected a red carpet welcome on his return from injury but instead found Szczesny in the starting line-up until there was nothing left to play for.
The problem is that although the player has had offers, he is very reluctant to leave and will report for pre-season training on July 13. Ter Stegen is very clear and has given the club two options: either termination of his contract, with the corresponding payment of $42 million for the three years remaining on his contract, or continuity in the team.
Real Betis favorite to sign Iñaki Peña
The player who was going to leave regardless of Joan García’s arrival is Iñaki Peña. The player has been ostracised and, although he still has a year left on his contract, it is best for both parties to go their separate ways. The goalkeeper wants to play and has offers to leave, but there is a problem. His salary is high and Celta and Valencia, the clubs pushing to keep the player, are not in a position to take on that amount.
In the last few hours, a new option has emerged for the player, which is gaining momentum as the chosen one. SPORT reports that Real Betis is leading the race to sign Barcelona goalkeeper Iñaki Peña. The green-and-white team has shown a very concrete interest in the 26-year-old player and is pushing to secure his signing. Real Betis is facing a year with European ambitions, and adding depth to the squad is one of its main objectives, which is where the Barcelona goalkeeper would come in.