Wojciech Szczesny was persuaded to come out of retirement and join Barcelona following a call with fellow Pole Robert Lewandowski.
Goalkeeper Szczesny this morning signed a short-term contract at Barca that will see him through until the end of the season.
The 34-year-old has not played since the European Championship in the summer and announced his retirement from all football in August, but will don the gloves again after being asked to come in as cover for Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who ruptured a tendon in his knee and could miss the rest of the season.
Asked how the move came about, Szczesny told El Mundo Deportivo: “He [Lewandowski] was the first person who called me to look at the possibility of this happening because I was retired.
“At first I was not prepared for new challenges so I talked to my family and friends and everyone told me that it would be a mistake not to accept this. That’s why Robert played a very important role because he was the person who had the idea to convince me.”
🧤 FC Barcelona and Wojciech Szczęsny have reached an agreement for the goalkeeper to join the Club!
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 2, 2024
‘A moment of huge pride’
Szczesny watched Barca’s 5-0 Champions League win over Young Boys last night – a game in which in-form Lewandowski scored twice – and admitted he was thrilled to be joining the Catalan giants.
The former Arsenal, Roma and Juventus stopper, who won 84 caps for Poland, added: “It is a moment of huge pride. Honestly, I was prepared for retirement. I was happy in that situation but being here these first two days in the city and seeing how people have treated me and how important it is to them has made me feel proud and part of this exciting family.
“Although it is a great institution and a great soccer club, I have felt the feeling of family. Family is very important to me and now I have extended it a little.”
Szczesny will compete with Ter Stegen’s back-up Iñaki Peña for the number one shirt.
