Barcelona veteran opens up on the chronic struggles behind his comeback to football | OneFootball

Wojciech Szczesny has opened up on the hidden physical pain he has carried for much of his career, offering a very human look at one of Barcelona’s most surprising recent figures.

The Polish goalkeeper returned from retirement to play for Barca, but his strong performances have come despite a chronic problem that dates back to 2008.

According to SPORT, Szczesny suffered a serious injury while at Arsenal, fracturing both arms, and has lived with pain ever since.

Szczesny explains his daily struggle

Szczesny said:

He also explained how difficult some moments can become.

“Sometimes I cannot even take off my glove because I cannot undo the Velcro and I have to ask for help. I cannot hold a bottle of water without dropping it or unscrew the cap. It usually takes me around an hour.”

For Barcelona fans, those words give his story a different weight. Szczesny did not simply come back to enjoy one last stage at a huge club. He came back while managing pain that most people never saw.

The goalkeeper also spoke about a difficult childhood and his strained relationship with his father, saying he once feared him and promised himself he would never make his own son feel that way.

He said:

He also explained how careful he was not to give his son a similar experience:

“I promised myself that I would never make my son afraid of me coming home.”

It is a painful confession, but also a powerful one. Behind the experienced goalkeeper is a player who has carried far more than pressure on the pitch.