By LUKE POWER, SPORTS REPORTER
Published: 12:37 EST, 28 November 2025 | Updated: 12:37 EST, 28 November 2025
Former Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has given an extraordinary interview in which he claims he broke Barcelona's body fat record and is 'fed up' of 'suffering' from long-term pain.
The Polish stopper, 35, also explains how he technically played 'for free' last season as he came out of retirement and was an unlikely hero in Barca's domestic treble.
He is writing a remarkable last chapter in his career after leaving Juventus and retiring last year, claiming he had lost his 'heart' for the game.
Within 36 days of that announcement, he signed for Barca as an emergency 'keeper but is still doing things on his own terms - including chain-smoking in the changing rooms and eating abundantly.
'I like to eat, and although I manage to stay within the weight limit, I broke Barcelona's body fat record,' he told the Polish version of GQ Magazine.
'Once, Lewy [Robert Lewandowski], mocking me in the Polish national team's locker room, said: "How could Szczesny have such a career with that body?" I've never been a player who trained harder than others!'
Wojciech Szczesny claims he broke Barcelona's body fat record and played last year for 'free'
The chain-smoking goalkeeper was an unlikely hero last season and won three trophies
His is a puzzling case because, on retiring last August he gave every impression that he had the all-consuming passion needed to carry on. It was time to spend more time with his family, he said.
That makes it all the more surprising to hear, then, that he spent his first year at Barca playing for a net free fee and is playing on carrying immense pain. He signed after a long-term blow to Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
In 2008, Szczesny suffered an accident in the gym at Arsenal and broke both of his forearms. Since then he has played on with metal plates in his arms which have never been removed.
'That was one of the reasons I ended my career. I’m fed up of this suffering,' he said.
'There comes a point during training when I completely lose feeling in my hands and I can't even hold a water bottle because of the pain.
'It's worse during pre-season, during very demanding training sessions. During the season, it's easier because you do two training sessions and then a match, so your hands get a rest, and it's not as severe. It extends from the wrist to the elbow.'
He said on his retirement and return: 'It wasn't that I'd lost my passion for football... I just wasn't excited about the offers. Clubs in the top ten made proposals, but it wasn't about raising my price. I didn't want to play just for money.
'I played my first season at FC Barcelona for free. What I received from Barca was exactly what I had to pay back to Juve for terminating my contract early.'
The 35-year-old won't stop smoking, even though he doesn't advise it to others
He has even managed to get his son, Liam, to stop supporting Real Madrid, while his pop star wife Marina has supported him after pushing himself to come out of retirement
Szczesny shocked football when he came out of retirement 36 days after ending his career
Last season, he played 30 times as Barcelona won the LaLiga title, the Copa del Rey, and the Supercopa de Espana.
He is known in England for his time at Arsenal, where he played 181 times after graduating from the club’s academy, which he joined in 2006.
The Polish goalkeeper won two FA Cups during Arsene Wenger’s time as manager, with the 2015 final proving his final appearance for the Gunners.
He played for Roma on loan for two seasons, before completing a permanent transfer to Juventus in 2017.
Szczesny won eight trophies, including three league titles. during his time at Juventus having succeeded Gianluigi Buffon as their first choice goalkeeper.
He was also named Serie A goalkeeper of the year after the 2019-20 season.
Szczesny also played 84 times for Poland during his international career, featuring in two World Cups and three European Championships.