Inaki Pena unconvincing
On the Barcelona bench, there are obviously substitutes but the solution is not yet found. For good reason, the number 2 goalkeeper, Inaki Pena does not enjoy total confidence from the club. At 25, the Spaniard has never been able to convince the teams where he has played. Loaned by Barcelona to Galatasaray in 2021, he only played 8 games where he conceded 11 goals. Returning to Spain in 2022, he has no less than 32 goals in 17 games during his starts during ter Stegen’s back injury last year. A ratio that is not worthy of a team at the top of Europe and the Barcelona leaders know that.
Navas in the lead
Since the medical joker rule is no longer in force, the club is forced to turn to goalkeepers who are free of any contract. A list of potential replacements is already circulating in Catalonia, with the Costa Rican Keylor Navas (37 years old) at the top, who could be a serious lead. The former PSG goalkeeper, without a club since June 30, is lacking playing time and is currently training in his country. His past with the Merengues (5 seasons between 2014 and 2019), does not seem to be a problem, and he even says he is ready to make financial efforts on his salary to help the club.
“It hurt me a lot”: Thibaut Courtois supports Marc-André ter Stegen
A list of thirty-somethings
According to the Spanish media Mundo Deportivo, Jordi Masip is also mentioned. The 35-year-old goalkeeper was trained by Barça but was rarely used (4 matches between 2014 and 2017). He then started for seven seasons at Valladolid (2017-2024). Other names of goalkeepers were announced by the newspaper, such as that of the former Liverpool goalkeeper, Loris Karius (31 years old) but also Tomas Koubek (32 years old), the former Stade Rennais player or that of Alexandre Letellier (34 years old). Kostas Lamprou (33 years old), Etrit Berisha (35 years old), Tomas Vaclik (35 years old), Jiri Pavlenka (32 years old) as well as Edgar Badia (32 years old) are also on the list. All goalkeepers full of experience but who are not a long-term solution given their age.
A surprise application
And if Barcelona want to bet on experience, they will have the opportunity with the surprising candidacy of their former goalkeeper Claudio Bravo. Having just announced his retirement at 41 a few weeks ago, the Chilean goalkeeper said he was ready to put his gloves back on to help his former club: “If Barcelona wants me, I would be ready to come out of retirement”. The goalkeeper has a full CV, having played for Manchester City, Real Sociedad and Betis Sevilla. Bravo also knows the house well, having played 75 games there between 2014 and 2016. An unlikely choice, but one that deserves to be relayed.
“I think it’s a very serious injury…”: Barça wins but loses goalkeeper Ter Stegen (VIDEO)
