Former Gunner Wojciech Szczesny has given his approval to a contract extension with Barcelona, almost a year on from his decision to retire from football.
Wojciech Szczesny after signing for Barcelona (Photo via FCBarcelona.com)
Photo via FCBarcelona.com
At the start of the 2024/25 campaign, former Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny announced his retirement from football. Yet he quickly changed his mind after Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s injury led FC Barcelona to offer him a comeback in October.
Szczesny signed a one-year deal at the time, but Luis Rojo of Marca reports that he’s now given the green light to stay another year with the club.
Wojciech Szczesny after signing for Barcelona (Photo via FCBarcelona.com)
Photo via FCBarcelona.com
This always seemed like a strong possibility, given how the season has gone. Szczesny has made 30 appearances, keeping 14 clean sheets, and he’s added the La Liga title, the Copa del Rey, and the Supercopa de Espana to his trophy cabinet.
We speculated back in October that if things went well, Szczesny may not be so keen to retire in 2025. After all, it’s now just one more year until the next World Cup.
Szczesny hasn’t been playing for Poland this season, but another year playing for Barcelona could see him breaking back into the team ahead of another major tournament. The coach has previously tried to lure him back, it’s just up to the goalkeeper to accept the call.
DOHA, QATAR: Wojciech Szczesny of Poland during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C match between Poland and Argentina at Stadium 974 on November 30, 2022. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images
At 35, Szczesny isn’t yet at an age where he needs to retire, and his appearances this season are sufficient evidence of that.
The goalkeeper justified his initial retirement by explaining that though his body was still ready for the challenges of football, his heart just wasn’t in it anymore. That’s evidently no longer the case.
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