Former Barcelona goalkeeper, Claudio Bravo, has expressed his willingness to come out of retirement to fill in for the injured Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Ter Stegen sustained a significant knee injury during Barcelona’s emphatic 5-1 victory over Villarreal, leading to speculation about the goalkeeper’s future.
Although the club has not officially disclosed the length of his recovery, reports indicated that he could be sidelined for approximately eight months.
In the wake of Ter Stegen’s injury, various sources have noted that Barcelona might seek to recruit a replacement for their first-choice goalkeeper.
With the transfer window closed until January, the Catalan club is still permitted to sign free agents, giving them options to bolster their squad.
Bravo, a 41-year-old Chilean international, recently retired this summer after a successful four-year stint with Real Betis.
He indicated his readiness to return to the pitch should Barcelona reach out, saying, “If Barcelona calls me, I will be ready,” in an interview with winwin.
Bravo’s history with Barcelona is notable; he played for the club from 2014 to 2016, making 75 appearances across all competitions.
During his tenure, he established himself as a key player, keeping an impressive 43 clean sheets and winning La Liga titles in both seasons.
He was instrumental in Barcelona’s 2014/15 Champions League victory and earned a spot in La Liga’s best XI that same season.
On the international stage, Bravo enjoyed significant success, highlighted by his contributions to Chile’s Copa America triumphs in 2015 and 2016.
His illustrious 20-year career in football has solidified his reputation as one of the top goalkeepers in the sport. If called upon by Barcelona, Bravo’s experience and skill could provide a much-needed boost during Ter Stegen’s lengthy absence.
