Everything Barca
Fansided

The future of Iñaki Peña, Barcelona’s anointed successor to Marc-André ter Stegen

By Chiranjib Ghosh

BARCELONA, SPAIN - DECEMBER 02: Inaki Pena of Barcelona looks on prior to the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Villarreal CF at Camp Nou on December 02, 2018 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN - DECEMBER 02: Inaki Pena of Barcelona looks on prior to the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Villarreal CF at Camp Nou on December 02, 2018 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Barcelona have a gem of a talent in Iñaki Peña

The last time La Masia produced a brilliant goalkeeper was way back in 1999, when Pepe Reina graduated. Before that, Víctor Valdés had already begun his rise which would eventually lead him to the Barcelona first-team at the age of 21, replacing Roberto Bonano.

Valdés is on 6th on the appearances chart, having made 536 appearances over the course of 12 years at the Camp Nou. He also holds the record for the highest number of clean sheets for a Barça goalkeeper, at 239 clean sheets.

After his departure, Barça found an immediate successor in Marc-André ter Stegen. To facilitate the German goalkeeper’s introduction into the first-team, Claudio Bravo was also signed from Real Sociedad. Now, Ter Stegen is firmly established as the first-choice ‘keeper.

But his successor in the first-team will be a La Masia graduate, who is the best goalkeeper that La Masia has produced in two decades. Iñaki Peña has already started impressing at Barcelona B, after winning the UEFA Youth League with the Juvenil A side.

Peña moved to La Masia from Villarreal’s youth academy after having won the Best Goalkeeper Award at the prestigious Arona tournament. Since then, he has developed well, growing into a quintessential Barça goalkeeper under Johan Cruyff’s favourite Carles Busquets.

More from Everything Barca

The 20-year old sweeper keeper is particularly adept at saving penalties, and is excellent with his feet. Peña is quick off the line and is very good in the air, unlike Ter Stegen. There is a long way to go for him before he can be considered first-team material, but he is showing all the right signs.

When Jasper Cillessen leaves, Iñaki Peña will be called up to the first-team squad, in all probability. The club is not expected any fresh investment in a goalkeeper when a talent like Peña is available and there are other important issues to attend to in the context of the balance of the squad.

But his future at Barça will be determined mostly by the evolution of Marc-André ter Stegen. The 26-year old Germany international is among the best goalkeepers in the world, and is not going to decline in the upcoming years.

At the age of 20, Peña will be looking for as much playing time as possible. It is unlikely that the La Masia graduate will be happy with a spot on the bench, despite playing in the Copa del Rey regularly. So, the youngster has a future in the Barça first-team hinges upon Ter Stegen.

If the German shot-stopper does not decline, it is highly unlikely that Barça will give a chance to Iñaki Peña, regardless of his talent and potential. The only other possibility is if the club receives a mammoth offer for Ter Stegen and decides against turning it down.

Next. Lyon demand €35 million for Ferland Mendy. dark

So, as of now, Iñaki Peña has been anointed successor to Marc-André ter Stegen. But it remains unknown whether the starlet will retain that tag, or leave the club in search of minutes.