- Szczesny joined Barca on a free transfer
- Played for Arsenal back in 2009
- Lamine Yamal was just two years old at the time
Getty/GOAL'It's strange!' - Wojciech Szczesny reveals concern that Lamine Yamal and Barcelona youngsters won't remember his Arsenal spell
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Advanced protection across 11 devices with high-speed VPN
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Those that sign up for ExpressVPN's most popular plan, the Advance plan, gain access to a high-speed VPN, which offers high-capacity 40Gbps servers in many high-demand locations, with VPN servers in 113 countries worldwide.
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Over 28 monthsSave 73%
Protect 14 devices with the top ExpressVPN plan
Pro
Those that sign up for ExpressVPN's top-tier Express Pro plan gain access to a high-speed VPN, which offers high-capacity 40Gbps servers in many high-demand locations, with VPN servers in 113 countries worldwide.
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Additionally, ExpressVPN's Advanced plan includes the ExpressMailGuard, which offers an unlimited private email relay plus an unlimited number of shared aliases and 20 custom domains, ExpressKeys, which gives users a password management facility for an unlimited number of passwords plus a 2FA authenticator, and ExpressAI, an AI assistant that offers 500 credits a day, six AI models, a web search facility plus 2GB storage.
There is a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users. The plan is available on a one-month rolling contract, although those that sign up for a 12-month plan (offering one year plus an extra three months) can save around 60%, while those that sign up for a two-year plan (offering two years plus an extra four months) can save 67%. Both longer-term plans include a 3GB holiday.com eSIM that is valid for five days in 150+ destinations.
Over 28 monthsSave 67%
Protect 10 devices with high-speed VPN
Basic
Those that sign up for ExpressVPN's entry-level Basic plan gain access to a high-speed VPN, which offers high-capacity 40Gbps servers in many high-demand locations, with VPN servers in 113 countries worldwide.
The VPN can be applied across 10 different devices simultaneously, and offers Lite Protection that blocks ads and malicious and adult websites. A dedicated IP is available to be purchased as an add-on.
Additionally, ExpressVPN's Basic plan includes the ExpressMailGuard, which offers a 10MB/month private email relay plus 10 shared aliases.
There is a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users. The plan is available on a one-month rolling contract, although those that sign up for a 12-month plan (offering one year plus an extra three months) can save more than 60%, while those that sign up for a two-year plan (offering two years plus an extra four months) can save 80%.
Over 28 monthsSave 80%
Advanced protection across 11 devices with high-speed VPN
Advanced
Those that sign up for ExpressVPN's most popular plan, the Advance plan, gain access to a high-speed VPN, which offers high-capacity 40Gbps servers in many high-demand locations, with VPN servers in 113 countries worldwide.
The VPN can be applied across 12 different devices simultaneously, and offers Advanced Protection that blocks ads, trackers and malicious and adult websites. A dedicated IP is available to be purchased as an add-on.
Additionally, ExpressVPN's Advanced plan includes the ExpressMailGuard, which offers a 100MB/month private email relay plus 50 shared aliases and a custom domain, and ExpressKeys, which gives users a password management facility for an unlimited number of passwords plus a 2FA authenticator.
There is a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users. The plan is available on a one-month rolling contract, although those that sign up for a 12-month plan (offering one year plus an extra three months) can save more than 60%, while those that sign up for a two-year plan (offering two years plus an extra four months) can save 73%. Both longer-term plans include a 3GB holiday.com eSIM that is valid for three days in 150+ destinations.
Over 28 monthsSave 73%
Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?
Szczesny has revealed that he doesn't expect the likes of Lamine Yamal and Barca's younger players to remember the fact that he'd even played for Arsenal. With the Catalan club's starting line-up in the league averaging just 23.8 years old, Hansi Flick has been capitalising on Barcelona's famed La Masia academy, something which the club's coaches of the past five years have had to do frequently due to financial issues at the club. Indeed, Yamal would've only been two years old when Szczesny made his Gunners debut in September 2009.
Getty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Barcelona have seen many youngsters come and go down the years, but this season seems different. Teenagers, such as centre-backs Sergi Dominguez and Pau Cubarsi and, of course, Lamine Yamal are starting regularly for the Spanish giants, alongside the likes of Marc Casado and Alejandro Balde.
And they aren't just there to make up the numbers. Ten games into the Liga season, Barca are comfortably sitting on top of the pile, with nine wins and just one defeat. Szczesny, meanwhile, who came out of retirement to join Barca, fears some of the younger players won't remember his past achievements as a goalkeeper.
Getty Images SportWHAT SZCZESNY SAID
Szczesny, who was brought in to help fill the void left by an injury to No.1 goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, has explained that having so many young players in the squad takes some getting used to.
He said: "I have to tell you, it's strange! Some of these players probably haven't seen me playing for Arsenal, and I feel like that wasn't a long time ago! But it is a big point of why I decided to come because I think I can give something to this team."
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA AND THEIR YOUNGSTERS?
Barcelona's young prodigies face their toughest task yet in the 2024-25 campaign, as they face off against Clasico rivals Real Madrid on Saturday. For some of the youth graduates, it will be their first ever experience of Spain's premier rivalry, but going off their performances so far this season, they look more than capable of handling it.
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