Araujo Not Alone in Barcelona’s UCL Exit Fallout—Szczęsny Also Under Scrutiny
Following Barcelona’s disappointing Champions League semi-final defeat to Inter Milan, frustration and serious reflection have taken over the club. While Ronald Araujo has faced much of the blame, he’s not the only one at risk. Veteran goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny is also in the spotlight.
Szczęsny joined Barcelona in the winter as a temporary replacement for the injured Ter Stegen. Initially, his performances were solid, helping stabilize the team and even prompting talks of a contract extension. But after conceding seven goals over the two legs against Inter—three at home and four away—concerns have grown over his ability to perform in critical moments.
Though not all goals were directly his fault, his overall performance has made club officials question if he’s the right fit moving forward. Sporting director Deco is reportedly already considering other options, including Espanyol’s young keeper Juan García and other international prospects.
Unless something changes dramatically, Szczęsny is expected to leave Barcelona at season’s end, making him one of the key casualties of this disappointing Champions League campaign—alongside Araujo and possibly others—as the club prepares for major summer changes.
