Ter Stegen no longer rules out a departure from Barça!

The situation of Marc-André ter Stegen generates great expectation in his country. With the World Cup on the horizon, the German national team needs him, but the FC Barcelona goalkeeper still cannot play and is struggling to regain his place in the team. The goalkeeper continues his recovery process from a back injury, while the January market approaches without a definitive decision about his future. Until recently, it seemed that Ter Stegen had decided to stay and fight for the starting position in the blaugrana team, but according to ‘Sky Germany’, he would now be more willing to consider a departure, either through a transfer or a six-month loan. A key conversation between the goalkeeper and the club´s sports management is still pending.

Recovery and contract until 2028

Ter Stegen should receive medical clearance in December, at which point he will be ready to return to the pitch. With a contract in effect until 2028, the German had informed the club during the summer that he had no intention of leaving and that his desire was to work to challenge Joan García, the current future bet of Barça for the goal. There were moments of great tension, especially when he initially refused to sign the medical report that allowed his long-term absence — a necessary condition to register Joan García — which even led the club to temporarily strip him of the captaincy. However, after his surgery and subsequent recovery, the situation normalized and relations returned to calm.

An open future before the winter market

With just over two months until the market reopens, the future of the German goalkeeper is once again a topic of debate. While Ter Stegen maintained his initial intention to fulfill his contract until 2028, Barça is offering him options to seek a departure, either in the form of a loan or transfer. The Catalan club seeks to reduce salary mass and considers that the goal is well covered with Joan García, so they do not plan to reverse their decision unless a significant injury occurs.

Pressure from Germany

From his home country, the pressure on the player is growing. The German coach, Julian Nagelsmann, has been clear in stating that for him, "Ter Stegen must be the starting goalkeeper", but he needs playing minutes to maintain his competitive level. Both the coach and the German Federation are urging the blaugrana goalkeeper to take the step and accept a temporary six-month loan that would allow him to regain rhythm and arrive prepared for the World Cup. If he does not achieve continuity, his participation in the World Cup would be seriously compromised, which would be a hard blow for a player who has been trying to establish himself as a starter in the national team for years.

Barça, waiting for movements

For now, the FC Barcelona has not taken any initiative and expects the goalkeeper himself to request a review of his situation. Some clubs have already shown interest in knowing his plans, both to the player´s environment and to Barça itself, although conversations have not progressed. He will not be pressured to make a decision, but from Germany, they point out that Ter Stegen may have changed his stance, although nothing has been definitively decided yet. Determining weeks are approaching for the future of the German goalkeeper.