The future of Marc-André ter Stegen at FC Barcelona is apparently being questioned internally. The latest reports from Spain about the thought games on the goalkeeper position at the Catalans suggest chaos.
The report of the Spanish sports newspaper AS hit like a bomb. On Friday, they reported that Marc-André ter Stegen was on the verge of leaving FC Barcelona if the officials managed to sign their desired goalkeeper in the summer.
According to consistent media reports, this should be Joan Garcia from city rivals Espanyol Barcelona. The 24-year-old experienced his breakthrough in the past months and played himself through his strong performances in LaLiga on the radar of top clubs. If you believe the Spanish media, Garcia is the number one transfer target for the Barca bosses in the summer.
Marc-André ter Stegen is a long-time captain and starting goalkeeper at FC Barcelona
Nagelsmann backs ter Stegen
Ter Stegen comes from a serious injury, he had to pause for 223 days due to a patellar tendon tear. After 45 missed games, the 33-year-old made his comeback on May 3. The German stood on the field for 90 minutes twice. According to reports, the bosses are not sure whether ter Stegen will come close to his old performance. It seems that the confidence in him is dwindling.
On Friday, national coach Julian Nagelsmann was asked about the latest reports about his protégé at the DFB press conference. Nagelsmann gave him his full backing: “Marc will be number one. I have emphasized that often.”
“I’m not afraid and worried”
The national coach has also “read” the reports, but: “I’m not afraid and worried now – and neither is Marc.” He spoke to Barca coach Hansi Flick, “but certainly not about the transfer plans of Barcelona, that’s not my construction site, thank God.”
Nagelsmann pointed out that ter Stegen is at an age in which he does not need a “mega rhythm” and for this reason he is convinced that his number one will complete two top games in the Nations League.
Barca’s desired candidate probably with exit clause
The Barca officials apparently no longer have this conviction and probably also doubt his fitness. However, this is paradoxical, because recently the Catalans published a video in which the recovery process was accompanied and Barca’s athletic trainer Pablo Merino explained: “He has come back stronger than ever. He is a very disciplined German, he was able to adapt a number of routines that he did not have before and data show that he has more strength and muscle mass than before the injury.” He himself also emphasized after his recovery that he felt better than ever.
Garcia is considered a great desired solution and the Barca bosses feel compelled to act after his strong season, because the 24-year-old is said to have an exit clause of 25 million euros anchored in his contract. The officials apparently assume that this clause will be drawn in the summer – and if they don’t become active themselves, then a opponent will. Most recently, there was also talk of interest from Manchester City.
Garcia does not want to give ter Stegen the lead
According to Mundo Deportivo, Garcia favors a move to the city rivals. When asked about this recently at a press conference, he said: “There are many things, it’s not just my decision. I will talk to my people about it and then we will decide.”
Barca is said to have already offered him a five-year contract. However, there is a hurdle in the negotiations: the 24-year-old apparently wants to have it firmly anchored that he will be the new number one and does not have to line up behind ter Stegen.
Is a loan an option?
Meanwhile, the Marca wrote that the German is watching the situation calmly, but was anything but happy about the reports. Accordingly, he has no intention of leaving the club in the summer. At the moment he wants to concentrate completely on reaching his old performance level again and winning the Nations League with the DFB team.
In addition, the report said that the Catalans do not actually want to or cannot sell ter Stegen because they know how high his salary is and no other club will take it over. Therefore, it was suspected that Garcia would be loaned out first after a possible commitment.
Ter Stegen knows about his standing in the club as well as in the cabin, after all he has been with Blaugrana since 2014 and completed 422 competitive games in that time, in which he kept his goal clean 175 times. He has also been captain of the team since 2023 and his contract runs until 2028.
Great chaos potential
The 33-year-old has the opportunity in the upcoming two Nations League games with the German national team to prove his skills again and thus silence the speculation somewhat. In addition, he can encourage the Barca bosses to rethink with two strong performances and show them that any doubts about his fitness and performance are unfounded.
If Garcia is signed in the summer, a great chaos could come to the Barca bosses, because one of them will then have to be told that he must first take the place on the substitute bench. The scenario harbors conflict potential, which at the current time seems supposedly unnecessary.