That FC Barcelona’s defense has gained peace of mind with the signing of Joan Garcia (24) as goalkeeper is a fact. That this summer the club will have to decide who takes over as the second goalkeeper, too. The Polish Wojciech Szczesny (36), who signed a renewal for one year plus an optional one, is quite aware that he will not continue next season. Who will take the role of second goalkeeper? That is one of the questions being asked at the training ground.
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The puzzle is wide. Ter Stegen will return, who yesterday turned 34 while recovering from an injury that has kept him from playing this season. Iñaki Peña (27) will also return from his loan at Elche, having renewed until 2029 last summer before going on loan. The club also has Diego Kochen (20) and Eder Aller (19) on the payroll, regulars in Flick’s training sessions and call-ups. Both reserve team goalkeepers have contracts until 2028.
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Additionally, there are Ander Astralaga (22), with a contract until June 2026 and an option to extend it until 2028 (this season he played on loan at Granada), and Áron Yaakobishvili (20), with a contract until 2028 and loaned to Andorra until the end of the season. In total, seven goalkeepers on the payroll.
Flick must resolve the future of six goalkeepers and the club balance the books to be able to sign
If Flick wants, they will stay; if not, the club will have to consider a departure or a new loan, especially in cases like Iñaki Peña and Ter Stegen. The latter holds one of the highest salaries in the squad and last summer they no longer counted on him (at that time he was also out due to a back ailment after playing with Germany). Due to his injury history and age considerations after a year with Szczesny, Barça signed Joan Garcia.
Just in case, there is one more goalkeeper in the Barça orbit: a goalkeeper with whom there have been contacts to understand his situation and willingness. This is Álex Remiro, goalkeeper of Real Sociedad and international with the national team. Remiro has a contract with the San Sebastián club until 2027 and, whether this summer via a transfer or next summer on a free transfer, he is one of the names on Deco’s agenda, who has met several times with his agents.
Remiro, happy at Real Sociedad, hopes to go to the World Cup before considering
other proposals
“I am very focused on Real. I am very comfortable, very happy. Obviously, I have heard it through the echo that social media has. I haven’t stopped to think about anything else. You never know,” responded an ambiguous Remiro in an interview with La Sexta. The goalkeeper is happy in San Sebastián, where he has just bought a house. He will not force his departure nor leave on bad terms. It is already seven seasons at the txuri-urdin club, which just closed the season with the Copa del Rey won against Atlético de Madrid. Remiro, the league’s guardian, did not defend the goal that day due to a technical decision based on competition distribution. Coach Pellegrino Matarazzo finally chose Unai Marrero, following the cup pattern except in the quarterfinals against Alavés and the first leg against Athletic Club in the semifinals. Remiro started there because Marrero was injured. Once the decisive match arrived, the distribution was maintained. Remiro was practically the first to go celebrate the Cup with Marrero. He feels involved and happy at the club.
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A trusted man of Luis de la Fuente for his leadership and influence in the locker room, Remiro, at 31 years old, now aspires to attend the World Cup, as he did in the last Eurocup as part of the group. It would be the great dream he wants to fulfill before considering his future. His presence will depend on the coach’s decisions, who also values Joan Garcia for inclusion.
Remiro’s market value is 15 million. His release clause is practically triple that. However, as his contract nears its end, his price could drop to its current value if the pieces of Barça’s goalkeeping puzzle do not fit and Deco activates the Remiro plan this summer.
At Barcelona, they are also aware that the club’s financial situation is not thriving and that, before presenting formal offers, there are tasks to do: win the league, outline departures, and rule out renewals. Only then, and if achieving the 1-1 rule in financial fair play, could the club aspire to reinforcements such as a center forward (Julián Álvarez), a center back (Bastoni), and a goalkeeper (Remiro). In case they do not arrive, there are plans from A to Z.
12 million separate Barcelona from the 1-1 rule
For six years, since the outbreak of the pandemic, Barça has not been able to operate normally in the transfer market. This year, in total, 12 million euros separate the club from the normality of the so-called 1-1 rule. To achieve this, Barcelona is working to close the fiscal year in the black by June 30 and, according to RAC1, it does not depend on the payment of the 28 million pending from the VIP seats operation – a payment that New Era Visionary Group should have already made – but hopes to achieve it with other alternative operations or even with some transfer. The 1-1 rule allows that for every euro of salary and amortization freed by a player’s departure, one euro can be allocated to a new signing. The higher the salary and amortization of the signing in question, the more space must be generated to register him. That the club improves its accounts is also important for LaLiga, the body that values the efforts the club is making. Both parties acknowledge that the relationship between club and league has substantially improved.
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