Barcelona’s homegrown goalkeeper looking to break the curse of Victor Valdes

Every time Barcelona appear to have a setback, La Masia pops up with a new young talent who bridges the gap and helps the team maintain its level.

Over the years, the academy has produced great defenders in Gerard Pique, Carles Puyol and now Pau Cubarsi, a whole new midfield generation in Gavi, Marc Bernal and Marc Casado and forwards like Ansu Fati and Lamine Yamal.

The one position La Masia has lacked is the goalkeeping position, for the only player in recent history who has successfully established himself as a starter from the academy is Victor Valdes.

Looking to break a curse

Valdes made his debut for Barcelona in August 2002. In the 22 years that have passed, only six academy goalkeepers have debuted for the first team, none of whom have established themselves as starters.

The six players cumulatively have just 57 official appearances for the club, and Inaki Pena is the latest on that list.

The youngster, however, is determined to break the curse and succeed Valdes as the club’s next homegrown goalkeeper as reported by SPORT.

Pena waited through 96 official call-ups to make his debut for the first team and even spent a half-a-season on loan at Galatasaray in the build-up to it.

The 25-year-old’s only chances came when Ter Stegen was injured and he is now presented with the opportunity of a lifetime.

With Ter Stegen out for the season and the management transmitting confidence in his abilities, Pena will certainly have a handful of chances to prove his worth and establish himself as a mainstay.

The imminent signing of Wojciech Szczesny, however, means that he will face stiff competition and thus have to be on his toes.