Overview

• In remarks at his Elche presentation, Peña said he left Barcelona with a “bitter feeling” after not playing in the final months despite totaling 25 or 26 appearances.
• Barcelona asked him to wait until their goalkeepers were registered before approving his departure, according to Peña.
• He had fallen down the pecking order, with reports noting Joan García’s arrival this summer after Wojciech Szczęsny covered during Marc-André ter Stegen’s injury last season.
• Peña said he chose Elche because the coach expressed clear trust in him and he has personal ties to Alicante.
• He is on a season-long loan, has already made two appearances for Elche, and the team sits fourth in La Liga as one of the league’s remaining unbeaten sides.