Summary
- Szczesny came out of retirement last year and has excelled at Barcelona with 9 clean sheets in 17 games.
- Fans hail Szczesny as “rock” and “good luck charm,” sparking rumours of contract extension.
- The Polish goalkeeper impresses with crucial saves in Champions League, solidifying Barcelona’s success this term.
Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has proven to be a reliable player since making his debut for Barcelona in January earlier this year. So much so that it appears he’s on the brink of signing a contract extension, with some journalists from his homeland claiming there’s a “99% chance” the deal gets done.
Yet, while for some, his octopus-like performances come as no surprise – after all, he won a Premier League Golden Glove during his time at Arsenal over a decade ago – the 34-year-old had initially convinced himself he was way beyond his best and put his gloves away after seeing out his contract with Juventus at the end of the 2023/24 campaign.
Just over a month after announcing his retirement, though, Barcelona saw the value in bringing Szczesny to Catalonia as an emergency free agency following Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s season-ending injury. To say the Poland international has proved he still has what it takes to compete at the highest level for a few more years would be quite an understatement.
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How Wojciech Szczesny Has Performed For Barcelona
He’s making a serious case for becoming the new number one
While Barcelona currently sit top of the La Liga table and among the favourites for the Champions League, it would be fairly easy to attribute this season’s success to the likes of Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, and Robert Lewandowski – all of whom will no doubt be in and around the Ballon d’Or conversations come October.
One player who has flown under the radar, however, is Szczesny. In 17 appearances across all competitions since moving to the Costa Brava, the former Arsenal and Juventus dependable has yet to lose a match, all while keeping nine clean sheets. See his full statistics below:
One of Szczesny’s best performances in a Barcelona shirt came during the first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 clash against Benfica. Defender Pau Cubarsi was sent off in the 22nd minute, forcing the team to play with 10 men for most of the match.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Szczesny pulled off eight crucial saves to keep a clean sheet and secure a hard-fought 1–0 victory. His heroics rightfully earned him the Man of the Match award. Watch his highlights below:
Barcelona Supporters Cast Their Verdict on Szczesny
They have been full of praise for the reliable Pole
If Szczesny needed anymore convincing that he’s good enough to continue playing at an elite level, then he should probably take a look at the love he’s been getting on social media. “We haven’t lost a game since Szczesny became our first-team goalkeeper. He really is our good luck charm,” one X user said among a barrage of support for the Poland legend. Meanwhile, another added:
“They should tell Ter Stegen not to force his return, we have the best in-form goalkeeper now.”
A third piece of praise continued: “Szczesny has been a rock for Barca since his debut! Those stats are incredible—undefeated in 17 matches and nine clean sheets is no joke. He’s proving to be a top-class signing.” Elsewhere, another X user remarked:
“Ter Stegen is never benching him,” and a fifth perfectly summarised: “Clean sheets for days! The man’s a wall.”
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Szczesny has been a Lazarus-like hero this term, and though it remains to be seen where he ranks in the club’s goalkeeping pecking order once every glove-bearer is fit, the news of an impending contract extension goes a long way in proving just how valued the 34-year-old has become at Barcelona.