Wojciech Szczesny was seen teasing a ball boy half his age before Barcelona’s draw (Picture: @MovistarFutbol)
Ex-Arsenal star Wojciech Szczesny has received fierce criticism on social media after a video surfaced showing the goalkeeper humiliating a ball boy during warm-up.
The uncomfortable moment played out in the build-up to Barcelona’s La Liga clash with Real Betis at the weekend, which finished 2-2 after a dramatic injury-time strike from Assane Diao.
Szczesny, 34, who came out of retirement to join Barca on a short-term deal following a season-ending injury to Marc-Andre ter Stegen, was an unused substitute in Seville.
Several days on from the draw, a short clip of the said incident has begun circulating on X, in which the ball boy in question is seen clutching a ball bag, clearing up in preparation for kick-off at Betis’ Estadio Benito Villamarin.
But it’s clear from the footage that Raphinha, formerly of Leeds United, took umbrage with the youngster’s eagerness after appearing to balloon an effort into row Z during shooting practice.
Following a heated exchange, Barcelona fitness coach Rafa Maldonado tried to comfort the ball boy before Szczesny got involved and did anything but – mocking him while Gerard Martin laughed hysterically in the background.
Towering over the ball boy, Szczesny twice pretended to hand over a ball before swiping it away. Eventually, the veteran Pole presumably got bored of teasing someone half his age, tossing the ball away before making his way towards the tunnel.
‘Did you guys see what a c*** Szczesny is and what he did to the ball boy?’ one fan wrote on X.
Another supporter tweeted: ‘Szczesny remembered for his time at Barcelona by being a t*** to a ball boy, well done.’
‘Billionaires laughing at a kid who just does his job,’ someone else commented.
‘It is now clear what kind of people Raphinha and Szczesny are,’ another message read.
Szczesny is yet to feature for the Catalan giants (Picture: Getty)
Szczesny is still yet to play a single minute since joining Barcelona in October, so perhaps his behaviour be a consequence of the frustrating situation he finds himself in at the Camp Nou.
Inaki Pena has established himself as Barcelona’s first-choice ‘keeper in Ter Stegen’s absence, making 15 appearances in all competitions for the Catalan giants this season.
‘I have a lot of respect for Barca’s history, it is one of the best clubs in the world,’ Szczesny said of joining Barca, who currently sit two points clear of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga.
‘I understand the difficult situation that has arisen for them after Marc-Andre Ter Stegen’s injury and I think it would be disrespectful of me not to consider this option.’
Speaking ahead of Barca’s trip clash with Real Betis, Hansi Flick confirmed he had no plans to drop Pena for Szczesny between the sticks.
‘Szczesny is now performing really well in the training,’ Flick told reporters.
‘But at the moment the plan is not to change that, so Inaki is number one. This is what I said it before and it remains the same.’
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