Barcelona goalkeeper had a ‘tense conversation’ with Hansi Flick as he reconsiders future at the club | OneFootball

Inaki Pena is going through a rough period at Barcelona. Initially seen as the natural replacement for the injured Marc-Andre ter Stegen, the young shot-stopper found himself sidelined as Hansi Flick opted for the experience of Wojciech Szczesny.

The Polish goalkeeper has now featured in eight matches this season, cementing his place as the German coach’s preferred option.

Pena’s tense conversation with Flick

Pena, eager to understand his sudden fall down the pecking order, recently sought a conversation with Flick, reports Diario SPORT.

The meeting turned into an uncomfortable exchange, leaving the Spaniard with the impression that his path back to the starting lineup would be increasingly difficult.

During their discussion, Flick reportedly cited a moment of tardiness by Pena before the Spanish Super Cup semifinal against Athletic Club.

Can Inaki Pena reclaim his spot in the Barcelona goal? (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

While the goalkeeper acknowledged the importance of punctuality, it seems Flick was not convinced by Pena’s response, believing he lacked self-criticism.

Pena, on the other hand, attempted to reference other similar instances involving teammates, but this did little to sway the coach’s stance.

The report adds that the meeting left Pena with a bitter taste, and it appears the goalkeeper is even reconsidering his long-term future at the club.

Earlier reports had claimed that Barcelona are eager to renew the contract with Pena, but given the evolving situation, it would be very difficult for the Blaugrana to convince the player to pen down a new deal.

The coming few months, therefore, could be make or break for Pena as he looks to salvage his starting spot in the team or consider a move away from Catalonia in the coming summer.