Barcelona ready to send 22-year-old on loan in the winter transfer window

According to a report from SPORT, Ronald Koeman has made a big decision regarding the goalkeeper situation at Barcelona.

Last summer, the Dutchman decided to hold on to Inaki Pena, the young La Masia graduate, in the squad. The young Spaniard was seen as the third choice in the pecking order yet was kept because of Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s chronic knee injury and Neto’s unpredictable fitness.

Yet, the Barcelona manager has changed his mind now and no longer deems the youngster an essential part of the squad. Despite blocking the player’s loan move last season, Koeman is now ready to let the homegrown goalkeeper on loan.

Moreover, both the club and player are already said to be working on a loan move. With Pena, too, actively looking for options to see more playing time, the operation becomes easier to oversee.

It comes as a surprise considering the situation less than two months ago. When Barcelona were under pressure to sell players and generate revenue, Neto was seen as a surplus. It was suggested that Pena could be promoted as ter Stegen’s replacement, instead.

Yet, now the tables have turned. The doors at Barcelona seem to be closed for Pena keeper while Neto seems set to continue at the Catalan capital.

Nevertheless, the player is only looking at a loan move and could return to the Blaugranas with more experience under his belt. It remains to be seen if the proposed deal has an offer to buy or whether the club chooses to hold onto the young star.