⁸Wojciech Szczesny, the former Arsenal goalkeeper, is considering a surprise return to professional football barely a month after announcing his retirement. The 34-year-old is apparently pondering an emergency summons from Barcelona due to a serious injury to their first-choice keeper, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who may be out for the rest of the season after rupturing his patellar tendon in a recent La Liga encounter against Villareal.
This injury has left Barcelona urgently searching for an experienced replacement, prompting them to explore the option of bringing Szczesny on board. He had ended his career in August after parting ways with Juventus.
Earlier this summer, Szczesny had also thought about a return to Arsenal, as manager Mikel Arteta looked for a backup to David Raya. Although he engaged in discussions with Arsenal about a potential comeback, he ultimately decided against it. “I was open to talks with Arsenal because of my respect for the club,” Szczesny remarked. “But after we spoke, I realized it wasn’t the right fit for me.
Despite retiring this summer, citing a lack of passion despite still being physically fit, the chance to join Barcelona and reunite with fellow Polish star Robert Lewandowski might just be enough to lure him back onto the field.
Barcelona plans to meet with Szczesny’s agents this week to discuss the potential of a short-term deal. Manager Hansi Flick is eager to find a replacement for Ter Stegen and is considering other options, including free agent Keylor Navas, who has been training with Costa Rican club Deportivo Saprissa. However, Szczesny is now seen as the best option.
