Barcelona star: I’m the best in history!

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 4 Oct 2024 11:39 BST
• 2 min read

New Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has been reminded that he once declared he was the best goalkeeper in the history of the game.

Szczesny has arrived at Barca as injury cover for Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who has suffered a knee injury that will likely end his season.

The 34-year-old Pole has come out of retirement to turn out for the Catalan side, and if his history in the game is anything to go by, he will expect to establish himself as the first choice at Camp Nou for the remainder of the season.

Previously in his career, Szczesny has notably pushed legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and Alisson Becker to the bench at Juventus and Roma respectively.

During his time at Arsenal, meanwhile, he also prevented Emi Martinez from becoming first choice in the 2013/14 season and similarly thwarted David Ospina’s ambition to become the No.1 at the Emirates a year later.

Buffon and Martinez are both World Cup winners, while Alisson went on to become a Liverpool legend, winning the Champions League under Jurgen Klopp with the Reds.

Current ETV

Wojciech Szczęsny

GK

Barcelona

Wojciech Szczęsny

GK

Barcelona

€11M

ETV Range

€8.2M - €13.7M

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Szczesny: The best ever?

This track record of outperforming some of the best keepers in the game prompted Szczesny to make a bold statement in 2019 when he was still at Juventus.

“When I was at Roma, I sent Alisson, the best goalkeeper in the world, to the bench. Now, my backup is Buffon, one of the best in history. The conclusion I draw is that I am probably the best goalkeeper in the world and in history,” he said in a tongue-in-cheek manner.

Szczesny has yet to make a squad for Barcelona since arriving earlier this week but he could be up for selection when Hansi Flick’s LaLiga table toppers face Alaves in league action on Sunday.