Barcelona have been busy in recent weeks as the Catalan giants continue to reshape their squad.
Hansi Flick’s side are juggling early season jitters with pressing decisions in the transfer market, where reinforcements are expected in key areas.
The club’s financial situation has also been a major talking point, with several players tipped to leave as part of the ongoing restructuring.
Meanwhile, attention has turned to those on the fringes of the squad, with a number of names facing uncertain futures at the Camp Nou.
And now, one goalkeeper has found himself at the centre of a surprise development that few could have predicted.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona’s forgotten shot-stopper Inaki Pena has signed a new contract at the club, despite being pushed further down the pecking order.
The 26-year-old is currently well out of favour and faces stern competition for minutes following the summer arrival of Joan Garcia, alongside the recovery of Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
That leaves Inaki Pena as the fourth-choice option under Flick, a situation that almost certainly points towards an imminent exit from the club.
Yet before leaving, Pena has been handed a new long-term deal which ties him to Barcelona until 2029.
The plan, as outlined in the Spanish report, is for the goalkeeper to head out on loan to Elche for the upcoming campaign.
There, he is expected to gain valuable playing time and a chance to re-establish himself in La Liga, something that has eluded him during his time in Catalunya.
The move is set to be officially confirmed within hours, giving Pena a fresh start while allowing Barcelona to retain control of his long-term future.
The decision highlights Barcelona’s strategy of protecting assets even when they are not immediate first-team regulars.
For Pena, it represents both a lifeline and a final opportunity to prove that he belongs at the top level, away from the shadows of Ter Stegen and Garcia.
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