Barcelona is preparing for a radical change between the posts. After more than a decade trusting Marc-André ter Stegen as its starting goalkeeper, the club has chosen to begin a generational change in that position. The imminent arrival of Joan García, for whom €25 million will be paid to Espanyol, marks a turning point in the club's sports planning.
Hansi Flick doesn't view this transition negatively. Although he values the career and leadership of the German goalkeeper, he believes it's time to give way to a younger profile. In that sense, everything indicates that Joan García will be the new starter, and the sports management has already decided that Wojciech Szczesny will take on the role of second goalkeeper for the club.
Offers on the table
In this context, Ter Stegen's situation is becoming notably complicated. The German goalkeeper's response to this new scenario is not yet definitive, but there's already a formal offer on the table that could allow him to leave Barça immediately. The club is willing to release him from his current contract—which runs until 2028—in exchange for full payment of the upcoming year.
This way, he would be free to negotiate with any team in the world without a transfer fee, something that could open doors for him at renowned clubs seeking experience and leadership between the posts. However, the goalkeeper doesn't seem willing to make a hasty decision. Ter Stegen, with his sights set on the 2026 World Cup, wants to speak directly with Hansi Flick before making a final decision.
His priority is to understand the reasons for his possible departure and assess whether his time as a Barcelona player has truly come to an end.
An uncertain ending
The decision to sign Joan García, a young goalkeeper with a bright future, represents the beginning of a new era. Although Barça values what Ter Stegen has contributed, it is also aware that his high salary and loss of prominence make it unfeasible to keep his current role. If he decides to stay, it would be without sporting guarantees, and at this stage of his career, that doesn't seem the most suitable.
From the offices at Camp Nou, they hope the matter will be solved as soon as possible. They don't want to prolong a saga that could generate unnecessary tension during the preseason. Even so, they know it'll be difficult to convince Ter Stegen to leave if there's not a proposal that fully appeals to him both professionally and financially.