Robert Lewandowski phone call helped confirm transfer after snubbing Arsenal
Wojciech Szczesny could've rejoined Arsenal in the summer transfer window but instead chose to retire aged 34, only for Robert Lewandowski's Barcelona to come calling a matter of weeks later
by Nathan Ridley · The MirrorEx-Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has revealed that a phone call from Robert Lewandowski helped persuade him to come out of retirement and sign for Barcelona.
Szczesny, 34, made the surprising decision to hang up his gloves in August when he agreed to terminate his contract with Juventus after seven years at the club. Despite rejecting an offer to return to Arsenal as second-choice behind David Raya, the Pole has made a quick return to football after Barcelona lost captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen to a serious knee injury which he suffered during their 5-1 win against Villarreal last month.
That left manager Hansi Flick with just one senior goalkeeper available, Inaki Pena, so star striker Lewandowski, one of Szczesny's closest friends from the Poland squad, wasted no time in lining him up for a free transfer move. "He was the first person who called me to look into the possibility of this happening because I was retired," the former Arsenal star told Barca's media team.
"At first I was not prepared for new challenges but I spoke to my family and friends and they all told me that it would be a mistake not to accept this. For this reason, Robert played a very important role because he was the person who had the idea to convince me."
Szczesny was present at Montjuic on Tuesday to watch his new team-mates thrash Young Boys 5-0 in the Champions League, with Lewandowski scoring two goals. Flick's side have won eight of their opening 10 games in all competitions this season, form which puts them top of La Liga, three points ahead of arch rivals and reigning champions Real Madrid.
But it wasn't just Barcelona's blistering early-season form which attracted Szczesny. Having also been contacted by Barca sporting director Deco after Ter Stegen's injury, the 34-year-old explained: "It is a moment of utmost pride. I was honestly prepared to retire.
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"I was happy in that situation but being here these first two days in the city and seeing how people have treated me and how important it is to them has made me feel proud and part of this exciting family. Although it is a great institution and a great football club, I have felt the feeling of family. Family is very important to me and now I have extended it a little."
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