From Barca to Fresh Start: Pena’s Bold Elche Move Sparks La Liga Buzz
2 octobre 2025
A Fresh Start for Pena at Elche
Spanish goalkeeper Inaki Pena recently joined Elche from Barcelona and expresses happiness about starting a new chapter that matters both on the pitch and off it.
He emphasizes that leaving Barcelona was about more than football, focusing on personal well-being and finding a stable environment to deliver his best.
In an interview with AS, Pena notes that last season at Barcelona was challenging though he played around 25–26 matches, and his absence from the starting lineup in the final months left a bitter taste.
He says a change was needed, a new motivation and continuity because consistency has been missing for years to make the leap he seeks.
Returning to his home region matters to him as the coach’s philosophy fits his style; he has worked with him before and believes the conditions will allow him to give 100 percent or close to his best.
No Regrets About Leaving Barcelona
Asked about the possibility of returning to the starting role if injuries to Ter Stegen or Juan Garcia opened a path, Pena stresses that he does not regret leaving Barca.
Perhaps he would have played a few more matches, but the decision was made; Barca asked him to wait for the goalkeepers to be registered, and he would have made things easy given his contract.
For him the important thing is the change and seeking a new horizon that provides the drive he needs, not staying in a waiting state that adds nothing to his career.
Sarabia’s Role and the Season Outlook
Pena highlights the significant role coach Ider Sarabia played in completing the deal, noting that their prior relationship at Villarreal and Barcelona was decisive.
Sarabia knows exactly what Pena can offer, and Pena knows what Sarabia expects. They spoke a lot in the summer, but Barca did not allow the exit until goalkeeper registrations were completed.
The coach gave him confidence and made clear that they were waiting for him, something not every club does, and he was told he could be an important piece in the project.
He respects his Chilean teammate Matías Dituro and says the competition will benefit the team, but he aims to be the first-choice and lead the team from the back.
He praises the work of the coach and the club’s management in building a competitive squad from the start of the season, noting that Sarabia kept him informed of the plan and options, which convinced him the project is serious.
We did not expect to be fourth after eight rounds, but the solid start provides a huge morale boost to continue; the dressing room vibe is positive and there is a sense that progress is real.
Despite the strong start, Pena urges realism, recognizing that the league is long and demanding. The goal is to extend the positive run as long as possible and build a good points cushion to weather tough spells.
A New Challenge with Personal Motivation
Pena concludes that his project with Elche is not a temporary step or a bridge back to a big club like Barcelona, but a personal choice for stability and self-improvement: the present matters, and this is a fresh start to reclaim the best version of himself.
Thus Pena outlines a clear path for the next phase: personal motivation, a quest for consistency, and trust from the coach to become a central figure in Elche’s project, which looks set to deliver a different season this year.
Punchline 1: Pena swapped Barca for Elche to chase stability and clean sheets; even goalkeepers love a predictable calendar sometimes.
Punchline 2: If consistency were a post, Pena would be delivering headlines every week; the forecast for this season is more saves and fewer plot twists.
