Former Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has given a rare interview by which he claims he broke Barcelona’s physique fats report and is ‘fed up’ of ‘struggling’ from long-term ache.
The Polish stopper, 35, additionally explains how he technically performed ‘totally free’ final season as he got here out of retirement and was an unlikely hero in Barca’s home treble.
He’s writing a outstanding final chapter in his profession after leaving Juventus and retiring final yr, claiming he had misplaced his ‘coronary heart’ for the sport.
Inside 36 days of that announcement, he signed for Barca as an emergency ‘keeper however remains to be doing issues on his personal phrases – together with chain-smoking within the altering rooms and consuming abundantly.
‘I prefer to eat, and though I handle to remain inside the weight restrict, I broke Barcelona’s physique fats report,’ he instructed the Polish model of GQ Journal.
‘As soon as, Lewy [Robert Lewandowski], mocking me within the Polish nationwide crew’s locker room, mentioned: “How may Szczesny have such a profession with that physique?” I’ve by no means been a participant who skilled more durable than others!’
Chain-smoking Wojciech Szczesny claims he broke Barcelona’s physique fats report and performed final yr for ‘free’
The goalkeeper was an unlikely hero final season for Barca and received three trophies
The Polish stopper is pictured together with his Ukrainian pop star spouse Marina Luczenko
His is a puzzling case as a result of, on retiring final August he gave each impression that he had the all-consuming ardour wanted to hold on. It was time to spend extra time together with his household, he mentioned.
That makes it all of the extra stunning to listen to, then, that he spent his first yr at Barca taking part in for a web free payment and is taking part in on carrying immense ache. He signed after a long-term blow to Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
In 2008, Szczesny suffered an accident within the fitness center at Arsenal and broke each of his forearms. Since then he has performed on with steel plates in his arms which have by no means been eliminated.
‘That was one of many causes I ended my profession. I’m fed up of this struggling,’ he mentioned.
‘There comes some extent throughout coaching after I utterly lose feeling in my palms and I can not even maintain a water bottle due to the ache.
‘It is worse throughout pre-season, throughout very demanding coaching classes. In the course of the season, it is simpler since you do two coaching classes after which a match, so your palms get a relaxation, and it is not as extreme. It extends from the wrist to the elbow.’
He mentioned on his retirement and return: ‘It wasn’t that I might misplaced my ardour for soccer… I simply wasn’t excited in regards to the provides. Golf equipment within the prime ten made proposals, but it surely wasn’t about elevating my value. I did not wish to play only for cash.
‘I performed my first season at FC Barcelona totally free. What I obtained from Barca was precisely what I needed to pay again to Juve for terminating my contract early.’
He has even managed to get his son, Liam, to cease supporting Actual Madrid, whereas his pop star spouse Marina has supported him after pushing himself to return out of retirement
Szczesny shocked soccer when he got here out of retirement 36 days after ending his profession
Final season, he performed 30 occasions as Barcelona received the LaLiga title, the Copa del Rey, and the Supercopa de Espana.
He’s recognized in England for his time at Arsenal, the place he performed 181 occasions after graduating from the membership’s academy, which he joined in 2006.
The Polish goalkeeper received two FA Cups throughout Arsene Wenger’s time as supervisor, with the 2015 closing proving his closing look for the Gunners.
He performed for Roma on mortgage for 2 seasons, earlier than finishing a everlasting switch to Juventus in 2017.
Szczesny received eight trophies, together with three league titles. throughout his time at Juventus having succeeded Gianluigi Buffon as their first selection goalkeeper.
He was additionally named Serie A goalkeeper of the yr after the 2019-20 season.
Szczesny additionally performed 84 occasions for Poland throughout his worldwide profession, that includes in two World Cups and three European Championships.
