Barcelona’s veteran goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has made a surprising statement ahead of this month’s El Clasico against Real Madrid — he doesn’t want to play in it.
Yes, you read that right. The Polish shot-stopper would rather see Joan Garcia, his injured teammate, fit and ready for the big clash.
In a recent chat with Sportowe Fakty (via Sport), Szczesny opened up about his admiration for the young Spaniard.
“I sincerely wish him a speedy recovery. And I'm not counting on playing in El Clasico myself,” he said. For a man who’s stood tall in some of Europe’s biggest games, that’s quite an assist of humility.
Garcia joined Barcelona from Espanyol this summer in a move that raised plenty of eyebrows across Catalonia.
But the 24-year-old quickly silenced critics with sharp reflexes and composure beyond his years. Unfortunately, a torn meniscus in late September sidelined him for weeks, throwing his Clasico participation in doubt.
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What Wojciech Szczesny said about Joan Garcia?
Szczesny, who joined Barcelona in 2024 and extended his deal this season, believes Garcia could be something special. “I saw him last year at Espanyol and he made a huge impression on me,” he said.
“After three days of training together, I decided I could help in my small way to develop possibly the best goalkeeper in the world.”
He went on to clarify that there’s no rivalry between them, only mentorship. “I value the clarity of our relationship. He knows what my role is. I have no doubt who should be the number one goalkeeper at Barcelona.”
The 35-year-old, once criticized for his antics at Arsenal, now seems to be relishing his elder statesman role — part teacher, part safety net.
In football terms, Szczesny might be warming the bench, but he’s clearly warming hearts too.
As Barcelona prepare for another high-voltage showdown with Real Madrid on October 26, the big question remains — will Garcia be ready? Or will Szczesny have to put his humility on hold and don the gloves for another El Clasico?
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