He arrived at Barcelona and they criticized him for retiring, now Szczesny responds to the critics

New Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has candidly addressed his smoking habit in a recent interview with Spanish sports daily Mundo Deportivo. The Polish international, who joined the Catalan giants as a replacement for the injured Marc-Andre ter Stegen, has been open about his personal life, including his occasional indulgence in cigarettes.

• 

  Recommended

  Manchester City is preparing for its worst fear and it is not relegation to the Championship

• 

  Recommended

  Lionel Messi would return to Barcelona at the end of the season

When asked about his smoking habits and how it might affect his performance, Szczesny was firm in his response: “Absolutely nothing, those are things that I don’t change in my personal life and it’s nobody’s business if I smoke. I don’t think it affects my performance, and what I do on the football pitch is work twice as hard. And I don’t do it in front of children so that they don’t have a bad influence on them. Sometimes someone takes a photo of me hidden behind the trees, where I can’t see them. That’s not up to me. I try to hide it and not show it to people. But if someone thinks I’ll change my way of being in my personal life, they can think again because I am who I am. I’ve been like this all my life and these things are simply nobody’s business. I want to be judged as a goalkeeper and not for looking for stories where nobody really cares.”

Szczesny’s comments have sparked debate among fans and pundits alike. While some have expressed concern about the potential health risks associated with smoking, others have praised his honesty and individuality. The goalkeeper has cited legendary players like Buffon and Johan Cruyff as examples of successful athletes who also smoked.

The Polish international joined Barcelona on a short-term deal to provide cover for the injured Ter Stegen. Despite his off-field habits, Szczesny has quickly become a popular figure among the Barcelona fanbase, thanks to his impressive performances and outgoing personality.