Barcelona homegrown star ‘struggling’ after sudden ouster from the starting lineup – report | OneFootball

Following the season-ending injury to Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Inaki Pena stepped in as the first-choice goalkeeper for Barcelona this season and did a solid job for the most part.

Despite the arrival of Wojciech Szczesny as an emergency signing, manager Hansi Flick stuck with the La Masia graduate as his preferred option in goal for the first half of the season.

However, things have changed in 2025, with the 34-year-old Polish shot-stopper gaining prominence. Last night, it was Szczesny who started ahead of Pena in a La Liga game for the first time this season, indicating that Flick had now identified the veteran as his No. 1.

Inaki Pena’s morale takes a hit

Now, according to SPORT, Inaki Pena has been struggling ever since Hansi Flick relegated him to the bench, and his morale has taken a hit.

The match against Valencia was expected to be the moment that would determine whether Flick’s decision to bench Pena was to be a long-term one or not.

No longer the first choice in goal. (Photo by Fabio Deinert/Getty Images for Qatar Airways)

Up until now, Pena being benched was seen as a squad management move from the manager, with the homegrown star being used in the league and Szczesny in the other competitions. But yesterday’s decision made it definitive.

Despite suggesting that the decision was made with input from his coaching staff, the decision ultimately lies with Flick. The German manager has yet to provide any explanation to Pena about the sudden change in the situation.

The 25-year-old is understandably frustrated, feeling that there were no clear sporting reasons behind the change. He had been told by Flick that he was the starting goalkeeper when Ter Stegen got injured, and as long as he did not make mistakes, he would continue.

Like many other academy players, Pena had been waiting for his chance for a long time, and when it finally arrived due to Ter Stegen’s unfortunate injury, he seized it with both hands, determined to succeed at Barcelona.

However, Flick’s decision to sideline him without clear reason has left the young goalkeeper mentally affected. Despite this, the 25-year-old Spaniard remains determined and is ready to work even harder to reclaim his spot.