Barcelona’s search for a replacement goalkeeper to fill the void left by Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s injury has encountered a potential roadblock. While the club has identified Wojciech Szczesny, the recently retired Polish shot-stopper, as their preferred candidate, a contractual clause in his departure from Juventus could complicate the deal.
Szczesny, who surprisingly announced his retirement from professional football this summer, is open to a return to the sport under the right circumstances. Barcelona has expressed interest in bringing him to the club, but the 34-year-old has set certain conditions, including the expectation of eventually securing a starting position.
However, a “secret clause” included in Szczesny’s termination agreement with Juventus presents a challenge. This clause stipulates that Juventus would receive a fee if Szczesny were to join a top-level team within a specified timeframe. Barcelona must now address this contractual issue with Szczesny before proceeding with their pursuit.
Negotiations between Szczesny and Juventus are necessary to determine whether the clause can be voided or, alternatively, who would be responsible for paying the agreed-upon fee. If Barcelona were to contribute to the payment, the terms of such an arrangement would also need to be clarified.
Despite the potential hurdle posed by the clause, Szczesny is reportedly interested in joining Barcelona. The experienced goalkeeper sees the opportunity to play for a top-tier club as an attractive proposition. However, the contractual matter with Juventus must be resolved before any further progress can be made on a potential deal.
