Barcelona is navigating a delicate situation with one of their squad players as they work to resolve registration issues and manage their wage bill under La Liga’s Financial Fair Play constraints.
With the 2025/26 season underway, the club is close to finalizing a strategic move to secure the future of an out-of-favour player while addressing financial pressures.
The plan involves a contract extension followed by an immediate loan, a solution aimed at balancing squad dynamics and economic demands, with a resolution expected in the coming days.
According to Diario Sport, the player in question is goalkeeper Inaki Pena, a 26-year-old La Masia graduate who has found himself sidelined at Barcelona.
The club is negotiating to extend Pena’s contract, set to expire in 2026, until 2027, paving the way for a one-year loan with a non-mandatory purchase option.
This approach avoids terminating his deal, which would require paying out his salary, and allows Barcelona to generate savings while keeping the door open for his return.
Pena’s professionalism has been praised, despite his limited prospects of playing time due to the arrival of Wojciech Szczesny and competition from Joan Garcia and Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Pena’s situation has been complicated by Barcelona’s salary cap struggles, which delayed Szczesny’s registration.
Although Pena was included in the squad for the recent Mallorca match due to Garcia’s warm-up knock, his long-term role lies elsewhere.
Interest from clubs like Celta Vigo and Girona offers potential destinations, while a move to Como in Italy has cooled due to financial hurdles.
A loan deal is seen as the best path forward, benefiting all parties by providing Pena with playing time and easing Barcelona’s wage burden.
Hansi Flick, though frustrated by the situation, recognizes Pena’s patience.
With negotiations advancing, Barcelona expects to finalize the extension and loan next week, allowing Pena to embark on a new chapter while the Blaugrana streamlines its squad for the season ahead.
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