Barcelona’s sporting director Deco is moving quickly to secure the departure of a sidelined star ahead of the La Liga opener.
Barcelona’s pre-season tour of Asia has concluded, but the absence of one squad member from match action has sparked concern.
Despite traveling with the team, one player saw no playing time across all three matches, standing out as the only fit player not to feature.
This situation has raised questions about his future at the club, especially given Barcelona’s precarious goalkeeper situation as the La Liga season approaches.
With the league opener against Mallorca on August 16 looming, the club faces a critical decision.
The player in question is Inaki Pena, a 26-year-old goalkeeper who remains on Barcelona’s transfer list.
Despite being the only shot-stopper currently registered with La Liga, Pena’s complete lack of involvement in pre-season under manager Hansi Flick signals that the club is determined to move him on.
According to AS, sporting director Deco is now working urgently to accelerate Pena’s departure, either through a loan or permanent transfer.
Fortunately, Pena is cooperative and eager to secure regular first-team football elsewhere, which should ease negotiations.
However, Barcelona faces a significant challenge.
With Marc-Andre ter Stegen sidelined by a back injury and new signings Joan Garcia and Wojciech Szczesny still awaiting registration clearance, Pena’s exit could leave the club without a senior goalkeeper for the Mallorca match.
In such a scenario, Barcelona would have to rely on reserve team goalkeeper David Kochen as an emergency starter, a risky prospect for a club aiming to compete at the highest level.
The coming days will be pivotal for Barcelona as they navigate this goalkeeper crisis.
Deco’s ability to finalize Pena’s transfer while ensuring Garcia or Szczesny are registered in time will be crucial to avoiding a chaotic start to the season.
For Pena, a move away from Barcelona offers the chance to revitalize his career, but the club must act swiftly to balance their squad and maintain stability between the posts for the La Liga campaign.
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