Barcelona’s first-choice goalkeeper Ter Stegen has recently encountered some trouble. The relationship between the German international and the club has become increasingly tense, and he may leave the team in the near future.
According to reports, Barcelona is close to signing another goalkeeper, Joan Garcia from Espanyol. The deal is almost done, with only the formal activation of the termination clause remaining.This move has unsettled Ter Stegen, as he knows it could mean his place in the starting lineup will be challenged next season.
Although Ter Stegen recently said in an interview that he wants to stay at Barcelona, some of the club’s actions have made him reconsider his future. After playing for the German national team, he immediately flew back to Barcelona on a private jet to talk to the club’s top brass about his situation face to face.However, this important meeting did not take place as scheduled because head coach Flick and sporting director Deco were both absent. In the end, he could only learn about the club’s attitude towards him through other people.
What is even more worrying is that the news about Barcelona’s goalkeeper arrangements for next season was first revealed by the media: the club plans to form a new goalkeeper duo with Joao Garcia and Polish goalkeeper Szczesny, while Ter Stegen is not in the plans.
In addition to on-field competition, Ter Stegen’s salary is also a headache for the club. His annual wage exceeds 20 million euros, which is a significant burden for Barcelona given its current financial constraints. To free up salary space for new signings, the club may be more inclined to let him go.
Even German national team coach Nagelsmann is confused by the situation. He said that he only learned about it from the news and is not aware of the specific details. As the national team coach, he naturally hopes that his captain can have a stable environment to develop in.
Overall, although there does not appear to be any public conflict between the two sides at the moment, there are clear cracks in the relationship between Barcelona and Ter Stegen.The club seems to be preparing to part ways with the long-serving goalkeeper. For Ter Stegen, if he wants more playing time and respect, a move elsewhere might be the better option.
This “cold war” may seem calm on the surface, but there are underlying currents. In the upcoming transfer window, we may witness a major decision.