Deco, sporting director of FC Barcelona, makes a very clear statement in the discussion about Marc-André ter Stegen.
Sporting director Deco has, with rare openness, shown captain Marc-André ter Stegen the door at FC Barcelona. “I don’t have to talk to him,” said the former midfielder of the Catalans to the newspaper La Vanguardia and emphasized: “My duty is to build the best possible team for the coach.”
Therefore, Deco has signed goalkeeper Joan García from city rival Espanyol for coach Hansi Flick – as the new first-choice keeper, at the expense of ter Stegen. Deco has now coldly rejected ter Stegen’s wish to talk about the situation.
Marc-André ter Stegen apparently no longer has a future at Barca.
“There is no contract that says you have to play in any case,” the Portuguese shrugged in ter Stegen’s direction, who is still tied to Barca until 2028, and added: “From now on, the coach makes the decisions.”
He also announced further bad news for ter Stegen. The widely expected contract extension with Wojciech Szczesny, whom Barcelona had brought out of retirement in September after the serious injury to the German national goalkeeper, is “certain”. Because Barca will thus have four goalkeepers in the first team, they will have to “make a decision about Inaki Pena” – unless ter Stegen leaves voluntarily.
Deco also spoke about Spanish winger Nico Williams from Athletic Bilbao, who is also being courted by FC Bayern. “Both Nico and other players show the desire to come,” he said and announced: “If the circumstances are right, we will try.”