Exclusive: 'World class' player who rejected Arsenal now in talks to join Barcelona on free transfer
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- EXCLUSIVE with Graeme Bailey
Barcelona are now attempting to make a shock free transfer and snap up a player who admitted to rejecting Arsenal during the summer window.
Of course, the transfer window is now closed across the entirety of Europe, but free agents are still able to join new clubs whenever, given the fact they are unattached.
So, which free transfer are Barcelona now trying to wrap up? Let’s take a look…
Barcelona in talks to sign Wojciech Szczesny
TBR Football understands that Barcelona are now in talks to sign Wojciech Szczesny on a free transfer.
The man from Warsaw – who left Arsenal for Juventus in 2017 after emerging from Hale End in 2009 – actually retired back in August.
However, sources inform TBR Football that Barcelona have made contact with Szczesny to try and lure him out of retirement, after Marc-Andre ter Stegen suffered a serious knee injury.
Hansi Flick has belief in his current No.2 – Inaki Pena – and is ready to give the Spaniard a chance to step up, although an experienced glovesman is still wanted to add depth in the goalkeeping department.
It comes after Szczesny actually admitted that he spoke to Arsenal during the summer – as Mikel Arteta looked to replace Aaron Ramsdale as No.2 behind David Raya – although the Pole did not feel it was the right decision.
The 34-year-old told Meczyki: “I was open to talks with Arsenal because of the respect and sentiment for the club, but when I started talking, I knew it wasn't for me.
"The Arsenal option came up before my Juventus contract was terminated. I said, okay, we can talk, but two days later, I said it didn't make much sense.”
– Byłem otwarty na rozmowy z Arsenalem ze względu na szacunek i sentyment do klubu. Ale kiedy je rozpocząłem, to wiedziałem, że to nie dla mnie.
— Meczyki.pl (@Meczykipl) August 31, 2024
– Opcja Arsenalu wypłynęła jeszcze przed rozwiązaniem kontraktu z Juventusem. Powiedziałem: "Ok, możemy porozmawiać". Dwa dni później… pic.twitter.com/vN5LmOWZ7t
Szczesny, who has been called a “world class” goalkeeper, made 181 appearances in total for Arsenal – keeping 72 clean sheets.
Would have been ideal for Arsenal
Arteta eventually signed Neto on loan from Bournemouth after selling Ramsdale to Southampton, and while the Brazilian is yet to actually play, Szczesny would have been a better No.2 – in our view.
Firstly, the Polish stopper knows the club, and would have needed no time to settle, while he also still qualifies as a homegrown option after emerging from Hale End in 2009.
Ultimately, Szczesny felt it made no sense to spend the end of his career playing second fiddle to Raya, and he may now be proven right if he secures the No.1 spot at Barcelona.
