Deco identifies 23-year-old Ligue 1 goalkeeper as ideal reinforcement for Barcelona – Report | OneFootball

In football, peak years vary significantly by position. While outfield players often hit their prime in their mid-to-late 20s, goalkeepers traditionally develop later, with many not reaching their best until well into their 30s. This physical and tactical distinction is why goalkeeping prodigies remain rare.

The physical demands of each position are different from one another and this is one of the prime reasons that it is rare to see goalkeeping wonderkids in the world of football. Players like Joan Garcia, who are making waves at just 24, are quite rare.

One other player who fits into this anomaly bracket is LOSC Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier. At just 23, he is already the starting shot-stopper for the Ligue 1 side and has played 48 games across all competitions for his club this season.

Lucas Chevalier is already catching eyeballs this season. (Photo by Daniel Kopatsch/Getty Images)

Chevalier attracting big club attention

Now, as per Spanish outlet Fichajes, FC Barcelona sporting director Deco has identified the 23-year-old Frenchman as the ideal goalkeeping reinforcement for the Catalan club. The report mentions that the Portuguese director values the player’s courage and ability to take responsibility at such a young age.

Interestingly, the report mentions that Barcelona are not alone in their interest to sign Chevalier, with Real Madrid also setting their sights on him. Thus, the Catalan club will have to move quickly if they want to avoid a bidding war for the player.

A clouded goalkeeping situation at Barcelona

Barcelona’s current goalkeeping situation is interesting, to say the least. Wojciech Szczesny came in as an emergency replacement mid-season for the injured Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, but had a brilliant impact. The club want to keep him but he is yet to put pen to paper on a new deal.

Lucas Chevalier compared to other Barcelona goalkeepers. (Source: DataMB)

Ter Stegen, on the other hand, has now made a full recovery from injury, but for some time now, he has looked way past his best version. Being the club captain, he is not consistent enough and it might be time for Barcelona to look past him.

Inaki Pena, the 26-year-old Spaniard, looks more out than in at the moment after seemingly having fallen out of favour under Hansi Flick, almost overnight. It is a shame, as the La Masia graduate showed a lot of promise in the first half of the season.

Barcelona signing a new goalkeeper could be directly dependent on whether or not Pena and Szczesny remain at the club. At just 23, Chevalier represents a rare blend of youth, composure, and experience: a long-term solution in a position that has lacked clarity.

Whether or not Barcelona can act swiftly enough to beat rivals like Real Madrid to his signature remains to be seen, but the intent is clear: the next great Barca goalkeeper may already be in sight.