Vincent Gérard returns to the handball court. Barcelona’s injury troubles have forced the club to act, bringing in the Frenchman as a backup goalkeeper, according to Mundo Deportivo.
It was already confirmed in August 2023 that Gonzalo Pérez de Vargas, 34, would leave Barcelona for THW Kiel after this season. However, the goalkeeper has already played his final game for the club. On February 13, he injured his knee, suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Up until now, Barcelona had not signed a replacement and relied on Emil Nielsen and 20-year-old junior goalkeeper Filip Saric.
Now, according to Mundo Deportivo, the club is taking action.
Reportedly, Barcelona first approached RK Zagreb regarding 22-year-old Matej Mandic but were turned down. Instead, the club has decided to go for 38-year-old Vincent Gérard.
Gérard is currently retired but will sign a contract with the top club that runs until the end of the season. This gives the 38-year-old a chance to add another Champions League title to an already impressive résumé.
He is one of the few players to have won all four major international handball titles: the Champions League with Montpellier (2018), and the so-called “Triple Crown” with the French national team – Olympic gold (2021), World Championship gold (2017), and European Championship gold (2014).
Gérard also has four other medals to his name: Olympic silver (2016), World silver (2023), World bronze (2019), and European bronze (2018).