Arnau Tenas talks Lamine, Ter Stegen, La Masia, Barça exit ahead of Villarreal vs Barcelona | OneFootball

Once tipped as the future of the goalkeeping department at FC Barcelona, Arnau Tenas now gears up to face the Catalans as part of the Villarreal setup this weekend.

The 24-year-old shot-stopper spent more than half his life at the club, having been a part of the Barça youth setup between 2010 and 2023, at which point he left for PSG on a free transfer.

Tenas looking forward to facing Barcelona

After two years in France, Tenas returned to Spain in the summer by joining Villarreal and will face the Blaugrana in what he admits will be a special match for him, during an interview with Mundo Deportivo.

“More than anticipated, it is special. I spent almost 15 years at Barça, it is the club where I was practically my entire life. I have many friends there and countless memories,” said Tenas.

On whether he will be starting against his boyhood club on Sunday at Estadio La Ceramica, Tenas replied:

“I don’t know. I can’t give any hints, and even if I did know, I wouldn’t say. Those are the manager’s decisions, and we respect them, that’s all.”

Villarreal, despite struggling in Europe, have been very good in La Liga and are currently third in the table, eight points behind Barcelona. On whether a victory this weekend would make them serious contenders for the title, the 24-year-old star stated:

“Leaving aside the fact that it’s Barça, we try to beat any team. It’s a tough match; they have world-class players, but we believe we can beat anyone if we’re focused and play our game. That’s what we’re aiming for.

“We’re working incredibly hard and we’re going for the win.”

On Barcelona and La Masia

During the interview, Tenas shared his thoughts on the current Barcelona under Hansi Flick, insisting that his former team are doing very well.

Arnau Tenas during his time at Barcelona. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

“I see them well. It is the coach’s philosophy. I watch the matches and they are playing well. There is a lot of talk about the high defensive line, but they have it worked on and, like all teams, sometimes it can fail,” said Tenas.

“It is the tactic the coach chooses, and it has to be followed. For me, Barça are in a good moment.”

As a La Masia product himself, Tenas strongly supports the club’s commitment to young academy players.

“I will always defend people from La Masia because I was one of them. Barça and La Masia are a school that works very well,” said the Spanish goalkeeper.

“The young players are responding as they should, they are being looked after properly and they are performing at the level they have been working towards for all these years.”

Talking about his connections at the club, Tenas added: “I still speak with some of them when I go to Barcelona, I have incredible friendships. At that time, I was older than them, and sometimes I had to say a little something.”

While he did not name any individual player, the former La Masia star praised the youngsters’ development, saying:

“I’m not going to name names, but I see them doing very well and performing at their highest level.”

On whether any of the youngsters at Barcelona had surprised him, he replied: “No, because I’ve known them for many years. I knew that when their time came, they would be ready.”

That includes the meteoric rise of Lamine Yamal, with Tenas insisting that he expected the teenage sensation to make it big.

“Yes, I expected it. I have known him for many years, from La Masia, when we were with Gavi and Ansu. You could already see that he had a lot of talent, that he was different,” said Tenas.

“Today, I see him as one of the best in the world. When it has been his turn to perform, he has done so well. The youngsters are showing that they can play in the first division and at Barça.”

Tenas with Marc-Andre ter Stegen. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Tenas also reflected on his close relationship with Marc-Andre ter Stegen and the German goalkeeper’s current situation at Barcelona.

“I have a very strong friendship with him. Since I joined the first team, he always looked after me. For me, he is still an outstanding goalkeeper, but the club makes decisions that must be respected.

“Barça’s goalkeeping position is very complicated. If the club decides this, then that is how it is.”

Finally, Tenas touched upon his exit from Barcelona in 2023 and whether he felt that he was not given enough opportunities. Giving a measured response, he noted:

“I had to leave because of the situation that happened to me, as I already explained at the time. Now I am very happy here at Villarreal, always wanting to play. I do not feel the need to prove anything to anyone.

“In football, you have to be patient, and I will take advantage of every moment the coach gives me to help the team.”