Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny opened up on telling his compatriot and current Barca striker Robert Lewandowski that he would come out of retirement only if the Blaugrana came calling.
After calling time on his professional career in August 2024, the Polish custodian returned to the game, signing as an emergency replacement for Barca goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who had suffered a patellar tendon rupture.
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Szczesny signed a deal with the Blaugrana in October for the rest of the season. Barca won their first domestic treble and reaching the UEFA Champions League semi-finals, with their Polish goalkeeper keeping 14 clean sheets in 30 games across competitions.
“Three days before announcing my retirement, I even told Lewandowski that I did not want to play for any club anymore, unless it was Barcelona,” Szczesny told GQ (via SPORT) why he reversed his retirment decision to play for the Blaugrana.
“When they called, they probably knew they could convince me. It is not that I had lost my passion for football. I simply was not excited by the offers. I played my first season in Barcelona for free. What I received from Barcelona was exactly what I had to return to Juve for terminating my contract early.”
Szczesny signed a new deal with Barca last year, one that will keep him at the club till the end of the 2026-27 season. The three-time Serie A winner, though, is yet to keep a clean sheet in nine games across competitions this campaign.
How have Barcelona fared this season?
Barcelona are on a two-game losing streak across competitions. Following a 4-0 reverse at Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg at the weekend, the quadruple-chasing Blaugrana lost 2-1 at 10-man Girona in La Liga in midweek.
The hopes of a repeat domestic treble for Hansi Flick’s side – who defended their Supercopa Espana title earlier this year – are now dangling by a proverbial thread. Barca will look to return to winning ways when they host Levante in the league on Sunday (February 22).
Trailing leaders Real Madrid (60) by two points after 24 games, the Blaugrana will next host Villarreal in the league on February 28 before hosting Atletico in the cup semi three days later.
Edited by Bhargav
