Como Target Out-of-Favor Barcelona Keeper

FC Barcelona have a very well-rounded squad that Hansi Flick can count on, but there are a few players who are no longer in his plans and are yet to leave the club.

Among them is 26-year-old Spanish goalkeeper Inaki Pena. He was part of the pre-season tour to Asia, but Hansi Flick did not give him a single minute across the three games.

It has been obvious for quite some time now that the club is ready to move Pena on. The 26-year-old is entering the final year of his deal with the Catalan club.

Now, as per Italian journalist Alfredo Pedullà, reporting exclusively for Football Italia, Como have entered the race to sign Iñaki Peña this summer, with Cesc Fàbregas emerging as a key driving force behind the move.

The Italian club was exploring a potential move for Kevin Trapp in recent days, but has now turned its attention to the Spanish goalkeeper, who already has interest in Turkey and his home country.

Pena has been at Barcelona for a long time now. He joined the academy when he was just 13 years old, starred throughout his youth days, and made his way up the ranks.

He had a loan spell at Galatasaray in 2021-22, which was very successful. Since then, he has been a reserve goalkeeper at the Catalan club, but that is set to change this summer.

Last season, Pena played nearly half a season of competitive football while Marc-Andre ter Stegen was sidelined with injury. He delivered a solid performance during the first half of the campaign, but Hansi Flick preferred Wojciech Szczesny in the second half.

It remains to be seen how things play out for Pena in the coming days. He would be keen to find out where his future lies, and let’s wait and see if Barcelona’s opponents on Sunday manage to take him back to Italy.

Semprebarca.com