Barcelona rule out Peña s termination option, loan departure plan surfaces

August 19, Barcelona Club has clearly ruled out the possibility of termination of the contract with substitute goalkeeper Inijaki Penia and is actively operating his departure on loan before the summer window is closed. As Barcelona's new La Liga journey began, struggling to meet the league's "1:1 spending rules", three players, Voicheh Szczesny, Hrad Martin and Rooney Valdegi, failed to complete the registration. Cleaning up redundant staff has become the key to the club's complete lineup for coach Hansi Flick, and No. 4 goalkeeper Penia becomes the next player to leave the team.

Barcelona initially planned to let Peña leave permanently. However, the club's latest strategy has turned to extend Peña's contract to 2027, a move aimed at paving the way for him to leave the team on loan this summer. The core purpose of the loan plan is to share most of its salary burden, similar to how Ansu Fati left the team this summer. The termination plan was completely rejected because Barcelona had to bear the salary of Peña throughout the season.

The news that Penia may leave the team on loan is expected to attract the attention of several clubs. Previously, Celta, Girona of La Liga and Como of Serie A expressed interest in Pena, but were unwilling to pay high transfer fees. After the loan was made possible, Como and Celta have become the most likely next home in Penia.

Barcelona has been hoping to send Peña away throughout the summer transfer window. But two days before the first round of the new season, Peña was once the only goalkeeper in the team to complete the registration. Despite Joan Garcia's successful registration and starting against Majorca, Peña still made the roster as a substitute goalkeeper. Garcia was injured and falsely shocked while warming up before the game, which once led to speculation that Penia might be ordered in danger.

Barcelona is cautious in releasing Peña, provided that it must ensure that it can successfully register Szczesny and make it a reliable substitute for Garcia. Now less than 15 days before the transfer window is closed, the club hopes that Penia's departure can accelerate the registration process of Polish national goal Szczesny.

Penia's departure from Barcelona this summer is almost a foregone conclusion. But if his transfer matter cannot be finalized within this week, he is very likely to continue as a substitute goalkeeper and play with the team in the second game of the season away against Levante.