A first team star from FC Barcelona is contemplating leaving the club following a "tense" discussion with head coach Hansi Flick, as reported by SPORT through anonymous sources.
Iñaki Peña took over as Flick's undisputed goalkeeper after Marc-André ter Stegen sustained a season-ending injury in September. This happened despite the fact that Barcelona had coaxed Wojciech Szczesny out of retirement and signed him to a contract extending until June 30.
Even with his vast experience, the Pole willingly took on a secondary role and handled everything professionally while waiting for his opportunity.
This occurred during the Copa del Rey match against Barbastro at the beginning of 2025, when Flick deployed a lineup consisting mostly of reserve players.
However, when Pena was late for a meeting before the Spanish Super Cup semifinal against Athletic Club, it paved the way for 'Tek' to secure a more permanent position. He then played in the final where they achieved an impressive 5-2 victory over Real Madrid.
Since then, Pena has been on the sidelines, as Flick confirmed during a pre-match press conference that the veteran is "clearly" his top choice for goalkeeper.
"Szczesny is definitely the first choice," Flick stated. "We've selected 'Tek' due to his personality, approach, and playing style. He's consistently performed well. Both are outstanding goalkeepers, along with our promising younger talents."
According to AsSPORT, Pena has become frustrated with his situation to the extent of approaching Flick directly "to understand firsthand why the German coach had chosen Szczesny for recent matches."
Flick reportedly pointed out Pena's lateness and expressed his belief that he has not been sufficiently self-critical in various situations throughout the season.
The discussion between the two was characterized as "tense" and "awkward," with Peña now contemplating a departure from the club in the summer.
After breaking into the first team of an elite club like Barca, there's sure to be interest in the 25-year-old from other places.
If Szczesny extends his contract and stays another year, Pena would become the third choice goalkeeper behind him and Ter Stegen once the German recovers from injury, provided he remains with the team.
Szczesny is nearly guaranteed to start in Sunday's crucial La Liga clash against Sevilla, which precedes the Madrid derby.