Arnau Ténas decided this past summer to leave FC Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain, signing a three-year contract with the French giants.
The 22-year-old arrived as a free agent after coming through the ranks in Barcelona’s youth system. Former FC Barcelona trainer Aureli Altimira recently reacted to Ténas’ Ligue 1 debut after coming in unexpectedly against Le Havre last Sunday.
Even though he didn’t prepare to be a starter, Ténas impressed coming off the bench. He made seven saves for PSG, keeping a clean sheet and denying the chances that Le Havre were creating in the 2-0 win.
Why did Arnau Ténas leave Barcelona for PSG?
Altimira touched on the departure of the young shot-stopper from Barcelona. He noted that seeing Ténas leave the Catalan side this summer disappointed him. Nonetheless, he understood the reasoning.
But why PSG? Altimira commented to RMC Sport about the reason that the Spanish international decided to leave Spain and join the French giants.
“I don’t know why he chose PSG exactly,” Altimira told the French media outlet. “At FC Barcelona, it is clear that he had completed a cycle with the B team. He thought he would be number 2 in the first team, but then the managers chose another.
“Arnau has opted for a path that is not easy because he is joining a major European club like PSG. But he has 1,000 percent confidence in himself and in his qualities. He’s a fighter.”
Does Arnau Ténas fit Luis Enrique’s Criteria for a Goalkeeper?
Altimira also touched on how he sees Ténas’ development under PSG manager Luis Enrique. The former trainer has high hopes that the goalkeeper will reach his potential, knowing that Ténas fits the mold that Enrique wants in a player between the pipes.
“It’s evident,” Altimira added. “He’s a special keeper. I knew a lot of goalkeepers at the academy and in the first team with Pep Guardiola and Tito Vilanova. The goalkeepers came from all over Europe and from all over the world.
“And believe me, goalkeepers who know how to play perfectly with the right foot, the left foot… pfff… They can be counted on the fingers of one hand, and believe me, Arnau is one of them.”
