In a remarkably candid interview, former Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has made a series of stunning revelations about his unexpected comeback with Barcelona, claiming he broke the club's body fat record and technically played for free last season.
The 35-year-old Polish international, who had announced his retirement from professional football last year, made a shock return to the game just 36 days later, becoming an unlikely hero in Barcelona's domestic treble-winning campaign.
The Unconventional Comeback
Szczesny's return to football defied all conventional wisdom. After leaving Juventus and retiring in August, citing a lost "heart" for the game and a desire to spend more time with his family, he performed a dramatic U-turn.
He signed for Barcelona as an emergency replacement for the injured Marc-Andre ter Stegen, but did so entirely on his own terms. The veteran goalkeeper has maintained his unique lifestyle, which includes chain-smoking in the changing rooms and eating abundantly, despite professional football's typically strict regimes.
"I like to eat, and although I manage to stay within the weight limit, I broke Barcelona's body fat record," Szczesny told the Polish edition of GQ Magazine. He recalled fellow Polish international Robert Lewandowski once mocking him in the national team locker room, asking: "How could Szczesny have such a career with that body?"
Playing Through Pain
Perhaps the most shocking revelation concerns the long-term pain Szczesny has endured throughout much of his career. The goalkeeper suffered a serious accident in 2008 while at Arsenal, breaking both of his forearms during a gym session.
Since that incident, he has played with metal plates in his arms that were never removed. "That was one of the reasons I ended my career. I'm fed up of this suffering," he confessed. The pain becomes so severe during demanding training sessions that he sometimes completely loses feeling in his hands.
"There comes a point during training when I completely lose feeling in my hands and I can't even hold a water bottle because of the pain," Szczesny explained. He noted the issue is worse during pre-season, though it becomes more manageable during the competitive season when training loads are lighter.
A Season Without Pay
In another extraordinary disclosure, Szczesny revealed he effectively played his first season at Barcelona for free. The financial arrangement saw his earnings from the Catalan club exactly match what he had to pay Juventus for terminating his contract early.
His decision to come out of retirement wasn't motivated by money. "It wasn't that I'd lost my passion for football... I just wasn't excited about the offers," he said. "Clubs in the top ten made proposals, but it wasn't about raising my price. I didn't want to play just for money."
Despite his unconventional approach, Szczesny proved instrumental to Barcelona's success last season. He made 30 appearances as the club secured the LaLiga title, the Copa del Rey, and the Supercopa de Espana.
The goalkeeper is well-known to English fans for his time at Arsenal, where he made 181 appearances after graduating from the club's academy. During his tenure with the Gunners, he won two FA Cups under Arsène Wenger, with the 2015 final marking his last appearance for the club.
After loan spells at Roma, Szczesny transferred permanently to Juventus in 2017, where he enjoyed considerable success. He won eight trophies, including three league titles, while succeeding the legendary Gianluigi Buffon as first-choice goalkeeper and being named Serie A goalkeeper of the year for the 2019-20 season.
Internationally, Szczesny earned 84 caps for Poland, representing his country in two World Cups and three European Championships. His remarkable career continues to defy expectations, proving that success in elite sport can sometimes follow a very different path.
