Barcelona are going into the summer with an aim to generate cash from player sales that can be used to make wise investments. The goalkeeping department is largely secure with Marc-Andre ter Stegen being the first choice keeper.
Even though German didn’t have an excellent season as per his standards, there is hardly any question about his future and Barca are confident that the 29-year-old will stay at the club with his contract running until 2025.
More from Everything Barca
- FC Barcelona tracking Belgian Wonderkid
- FC Barcelona vs Betis Player Ratings
- Barça boss Xavi to get contract extension
- FC Barcelona planning swoop for Arsenal midfielder
- Barcelona interested in €30 million wonderkid
Questions can be raised when it comes to the backup for Ter Stegen. Neto was signed in 2019 as a backup option to Ter Stegen as Jasper Cillessen joined Valencia. In two years, the Brazilian has made just 17 appearances for the Blaugrana.
Neto is expandable and Barcelona are reportedly looking to sell him for monetary gains as the club fights the financial crisis. As per a previous report from Mundo Deportivo, Neto does have several suitors with West Ham United looking keen on the 31-year-old. Arsenal are also keeping an eye on the shot-stopper. Barcelona aims to recoup the maximum of 26 million euros they paid to Los Che.
In the event of Neto’s sale, Barca will have to look for goalkeeping options either in the transfer market or trust the youth.
Here are three goalkeeper options for Barcelona for the 2021-22 season:
Gianluigi Donnarumma
Gianluigi Donnarumma left AC Milan as a free agent after spending eight years at the club, rising through the ranks and being an integral part of the senior team in the last few seasons. Donnarumma leaves the Rossoneri after playing 251 games and keeping 88 clean sheets.
The Italian’s agent is Mino Raiola who had reportedly offered Donnarumma’s services to Barcelona, as per Fabrizio Romano. Barca board have not yet made a decision as PSG and Juventus are also in the race. Ter Stegen remain untouchable and will be the first choice keeper.
Another report from Football Espana suggests Barcelona are the favourites to sign the Italian. Raiola is working to find a new club for Donnarumma who are willing to pay 10 million euros per season as salary. Juve are now hoping to retain Wojciech Szczesny as Massimiliano Allegri has returned at the helm in Turin.
Donnarumma is one of the best young keepers out there and Barca may have been handed a golden opportunity to land a top keeper for free. If the Barca board does decide to sign the 22-year-old, the biggest issue that will arise is of game time.
Donnarumma at his age won’t be ready to accept a secondary role and Barca will be paying too much money for him to be on the bench. Ter Stegen is staying meaning either the keepers are going to compete or Barcelona will adopt two keeper policy for different competitions, the one they had during the time of Luis Enrique. Barcelona will soon make a decision.
Inaki Pena
Inaki Pena has been Barca’s third choice but is yet to play for the senior team. In the event of Neto’s sale, Barcelona can count on Pena. The 22-year-old has been called up to the senior squad on several occasions, when one of the two keepers have been out injured but has remained an unused substitute.
Pena is a La Masia product and considered one of the top gems Barca have produced. Playing for the reserves and Barca B, Pena is well accustomed to the style adopted by Barcelona. The Barca B team also thrives on possession and is a possession hungry team. Pena, being the keeper, has developed impressive distribution skills, which nowadays is a prerequisite for a keeper at Barcelona.
The 22-year-old plays accurate short passes and often helps the team build from the back. He’s waited for too long for his chance at Barca and deserves a shot in the senior team. Pena has a contract till 2023 and if the first-team opportunity doesn’t arrive soon, he may actually consider moving on.
Pena will also be the cheapest option as the Catalans will practically pay no fees for him. He’ll just be promoted to the senior team and this could be the smartest option considering Barca’s depleted finances. President Joan Laporta has been positive about trusting the youth again and if that is the case, Pena could be Barcelona’s No.2 next season.
Andre Onana
Andre Onana is currently in a perilous position. The Ajax keeper has been banned for doping until February 2022 after he mistakenly consumed a banned substance that was in his girlfriend’s medication.
Onana has lodged an appeal in the Court of Arbitration of Sports (CAS) to reduce the punishment and ban time period. If the CAS rule in Onana’s favour, he could return to pitch sooner or else he’ll have to wait until February of next year.
The 25-year-old is likely to leave Ajax this summer and a host of clubs are interested in the Cameroon footballer. Onana’s asking price will depend on the result of the appeal. If the appeal is upheld and Onana sees a reduction in his punishment or even lift of the ban, the 25-year-old will be sold in the region for 8-9 million euros. If the appeal goes against the Ajax keeper, he’ll be available for a bargain of 2 million euros.
Barcelona are already aware of Onana as he was part of the club’s youth setup before leaving the Catalans in 2015. Onana is also a solid option but the problem that arises that if his ban is upheld he won’t be able to play or train until next February. But before that, the Blaugrana will have to compete with the likes of Arsenal who are also interested in securing Onana’s services.
So these are the three goalkeeping options Barcelona could look at. Which one would you prefer?