Everything can change in a second, just ask Marc-André Ter Stegen, who has gone from being captain and hero at Barcelona to being surplus to requirements with the arrival of Joan García, which is not yet official but is more than confirmed. The German goalkeeper is not at all happy with the treatment he has received from Barcelona in recent weeks and has publicly stated that he will honor his contract with the Catalan club. However, up to five major teams are reportedly interested in signing the goalkeeper, who could end up leaving, although it will not be easy or cheap.
A signing that changes everything
There are two key names that have led Ter Stegen to this extreme situation. On the one hand, there is the signing of Szczesny last season in response to his injury. The Polish goalkeeper arrived to be Iñaki Peña’s backup, but he became the starting goalkeeper, earning the trust of coach Hansi Flick and the fans.
With the return of the German goalkeeper after his injury and a speedy recovery, the coach had no hesitation in continuing to rely on Tek to win titles, leaving Ter Stegen on the bench, something that did not please the player, who does not have the best relationship with the coach.
With the end of the season and his return, everything seemed calm until Joan García appeared. The goalkeeper position was not a priority for Barça, but the opportunity presented by Espanyol’s willingness to let their goalkeeper join Camp Nou and his low release clause prompted the Catalan club to move quickly to close a deal that was advantageous given all the competition for a young player with a promising future. His arrival will be made official in the coming days and he will be the first-choice goalkeeper, leaving Ter Stegen in a difficult situation.
Uncertain future for Ter Stegen
Ter Stegen has a contract until 2028 and a high salary, so it would not be easy to find a new club for him. In addition, the existing tension suggests that the goalkeeper will not make his departure from the club easy, and if his contract is terminated, he is likely to claim his full salary for the three years remaining on his contract, i.e., a figure of around €42 million. Sport reported that the situation seems to be irreversible. The goalkeeper does not understand the treatment he has received since his injury. It remains to be seen how the situation will unfold, as the German seems willing to stay even if he does not play, but he does have options to leave.
The German goalkeeper’s suitors
In recent hours, up to five possible destinations for Ter Stegen have been suggested in Germany. The prestigious newspaper Bild has placed the current Barça goalkeeper in the orbit of a number of top-level clubs in the major European leagues. The teams are AC Milan, Guardiola’s Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain with Luis Enrique at the helm, Juventus Turin, and Newcastle United.