The Situation in Barça's Goal Has Taken a Radical Turn. What seemed unthinkable a few months ago is now starting to take shape with decisions that shake the foundations of the locker room. Joan Laporta has already taken action: there is a plan in place for Marc-André ter Stegen not to be the team's starting goalkeeper again.
The German's return after his injury was as desired as rain in May, but his recent public appearances and statements have caused discomfort in the management. According to internal sources, the blaugrana president is fed up with what he considers "unnecessary protagonism" from a player who has lost part of his competitive weight.
Szczęsny, From Temporary to Unexpected Hero
When the Polish Wojciech Szczęsny arrived at the club, he did so almost as an emergency solution. Nobody imagined that a goalkeeper who had already announced his retirement would have the impact he ultimately had. With decisive performances, leadership on the field, and exemplary behavior, he has won over the coaching staff and the locker room.
Szczęsny has added impossible saves and a defensive stability that had been missing for a long time. So much so that Flick has already requested his immediate renewal, and Laporta, delighted with his performance, has decided to give him the reins until the next replacement is ready.
The figure of Marc-André ter Stegen has been wearing down. Although he remains one of the most valued players on the team, his return poses a hierarchical problem that no one wants to face. In Flick's current Barça, there are no names above the group, and his entry could disrupt a very difficult-to-build harmony.
Laporta wants to avoid tensions in the locker room and has therefore devised a plan that includes the German's departure. There are already talks to activate his sale, and several Premier League clubs would be alert if Barça sets a reasonable price. The idea is to cash in now, while he still has a market, and prepare the ground for a new structure in the goal.
The Signing That Breaks the Board
One of the most talked-about strategic moves is the possible return of Arnau Tenas. The former youth player, now PSG's third goalkeeper, could return to Camp Nou in the summer. Laporta wants to finalize his signing and have him be Szczęsny's natural backup until he is ready to take on the starting role.
Tenas is to Flick's liking, knows the club, and has a very high projection. His departure was painful, but the context was different: Ter Stegen blocked his rise, and that fractured his relationship with the club. Now, with a different scenario, his return would be the icing on a surgically designed operation to ensure the present and future of the blaugrana goal.
Ter Stegen, Culé Until the End?
The German goalkeeper has a contract until 2028, but his future seems increasingly distant from Camp Nou. Although he publicly keeps his commitment speech, privately he has already shown surprise and hurt by the club's lack of support. His recent statements have not been well-received and could be the last nail in the coffin of his time as a culé.
Laporta is clear: if a good offer materializes and Tenas agrees to return, Ter Stegen's era will have come to an end. Barça no longer wants to look to the past. And although the decision may seem drastic, it is based on a sporting and economic logic that, for the management, admits no discussion.
Amidst all this movement, Szczęsny will continue as the guardian of the goal. Laporta and Flick have seen in him more than just a goalkeeper. He is a leader in the shadows, an exemplary professional, and a point of balance in a young squad that needs stable references.
The Polish player's renewal will be for two years, enough time for Tenas to grow in his shadow and eventually take over. The future is being written now, and Barça doesn't want any more surprises under the crossbar. The new cycle starts now, and it will be without Ter Stegen.