“With Joan, I Do What Buffon Did With Me”

At 35 years old, Wojciech Szczęsny is living a different stage of his career—one where he sees himself more as a guide than a protagonist. In an exclusive interview with Mundo Deportivo, the Polish goalkeeper said that his main goal this season isn’t to play every match, but to help young Joan Garcia grow and establish himself between the posts for FC Barcelona.

“He’s a fantastic goalkeeper, and for me, he’s already among the best in the world physically,” Szczęsny confessed. He added that his greatest personal success would be seeing Joan have a brilliant season: “There’s no rivalry between us. I just try to support him in the best possible way,” said the veteran keeper, who naturally embraces his role as a mentor.

The Eternal Example of Buffon

During his conversation with Mundo Deportivo, Szczęsny recalled the greatest influence of his career: Gianluigi Buffon. “Having Buffon alongside me was a daily lesson. He was my idol as a kid, and watching him train, talk to teammates, and behave on and off the pitch was an incredible education,” the Polish goalkeeper explained.

He admits that experience changed the way he views competition inside a locker room: “With him, there was no rivalry—we supported each other.” That’s why now, as he shares the dressing room with Joan Garcia, he feels the need to pass it forward: “I’m trying to do with Joan what Gigi did with me. Maybe he won’t learn as much from me as I did from him, but the process is the same—sharing calm, guidance, and experience.”

A Mentor With Purpose

Szczęsny doesn’t see himself as a competitor but as a support. “Physically, I can’t teach him much; he’s a better goalkeeper than I am,” he admitted with a laugh. “But I can share my experience, positioning details, and how to handle the pressure of playing for a club like Barça.”

With that humility, the former Juventus player shows that his legacy isn’t only written on the pitch but also in helping shape the next generation. And as he made clear in his talk with Mundo Deportivo, his story with Joan Garcia is the continuation of a lesson that began with a legend named Gianluigi Buffon.