Barcelona goalkeeper ends 14-year chapter with heartfelt goodbye to fans | OneFootball

After having completed two signings, those of Anthony Gordon and Hamza Abdelkarim, FC Barcelona are also working on completing some departures. In this regard, they have already completed an operation, i.e., that for the departure of the goalkeeper Inaki Pena to the Greek side Panathinaikos.

The goalie’s sale would bring in €3 million to the Catalan club’s coffers, as he joins his new club with a three-year contract. This transfer sees a long-time servant of the club leave, one who had joined the Blaugrana side’s youth academy back in 2012.

Understandably, permanently leaving a side where he spent the last 14 years of his life would be quite an emotional experience for the player. As Mundo Deportivo has reported, he expressed some of his emotions as he said a heartfelt goodbye to Barcelona and its fans following his completed move, which went as follows:

“I arrived at Barça in 2012, very nervous, with a huge dream ahead of me and no idea of everything I was about to experience here. The first days at La Masia, new teammates, trips, unforgettable nights… There were good days and others that taught you lessons in silence, but over time this club became a very important part of my life.

Here I grew as a goalkeeper, but above all as a person. Defending Barça’s goal has been a tremendous responsibility and a great honor. Every time I had the opportunity, I tried to give my best, with respect for this shirt and for everything these colors represent.

Over all these years, I have shared incredible moments with teammates, coaches, club staff, and people who often go unnoticed but make everything work. I will always have a special place in my heart for all of them.

Today I say goodbye to a place that has been my home for half of my life. Saying goodbye is always difficult, but I leave with so many memories, with everything I have learned, and with people who will always stay with me.

Thank you to everyone who has been by my side over these years. See you down the road, FC Barcelona.”

Despite his long-term stay at Barcelona, and also with the first-team, Inaki Pena was never able to cement himself as a starter. First, he had to live under the shadow of the German goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, but even with the German’s decline in importance, he did not get a lot of opportunities to play, as Hansi Flick preferred Wojciech Szczesny’s experience over him.

After that, the arrival of Joan Garcia made it clear that the Catalans have already found another long-term goalkeeper for themselves, and the best way forward for Pena remained a move away from the club. Last season, he played for Elche on loan, and now, he has permanently joined Panathinaikos.

Despite this lack of opportunities, Inaki Pena impressed with his professionalism and readiness to help the team whenever needed. With his departure, Barcelona fans would be hoping he can turn out to be a successful goalkeeper in Greece, and maybe eventually return to the Catalan club in some capacity.