Barcelona homegrown star’s two options for the summer once loan spell ends – report | OneFootball

Barring an unexpected injury to Joan Garcia, the club’s decision to sign the goalkeeper this summer has paid its dividends already, with the Spaniard making the team’s goal visibly more secure in his short stint so far.

The former Espanyol star, after all, has adapted wonderfully to life in Catalonia and has looked confident with the ball at his feet, stood strong to make important saves regularly and has even swept fantastically for a player with no formal introduction to the system.

His arrival, however, marked the end of Inaki Pena’s spell at the club, especially after Wojciech Szczesny opted to renew his contract and Marc-Andre Ter Stegen refused to leave.

A big decision next summer

Pena left in the final days of the recent summer transfer window and is currently playing for Elche. He did leave, however, only after signing a renewal until 2029.

His loan is only valid for a year, and the player will return to Catalonia next summer. As relayed by SPORT, he has a massive decision to make once again next June, with two options on the table – either become Barça’s No. 2 or leave permanently.

Pena is currently on loan at Elche. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Pena’s decision, however, will depend on the situations of Szczesny and Ter Stegen and whether they are at the club next season.

For Ter Stegen, a January departure looks likely as his starting role for Germany in the FIFA World Cup largely hinges on it.

Szczesny, meanwhile, recently renewed his deal until 2027. He plans to fulfil his contract before leaving the club, but nothing can be said for certain, given that he is already in his extended career after previously retiring.

If Ter Stegen leaves and the Polish star opts to depart the club as well, Pena will have the chance to be Barcelona’s second-choice goalkeeper and thus stay at the club next summer.

If, however, Szczesny opts to stay and see out his contract, Pena will look for an exit and leave Barcelona as even the club will value a sale to get some financial return. Given that both parties were open to a departure last summer, that will not be a complicated venture.