Barcelona has experienced a summer full of moves and difficult decisions in sports planning. With Flick on the bench and the joint management of Joan Laporta and Deco, the foundations have been laid for a project that aims to rejuvenate the squad and correct imbalances. In this process, several key players have been under the spotlight, whether due to their contract situation, their performance, or the physical problems they've been dealing with.
In this context, the Barça goal has been under special scrutiny. In recent years, it has been an undisputed position due to ter Stegen's presence, but last season was marked by injuries and decisions that cast doubt on his continuity. The addition of Joan García is proof that the Barça board wanted to secure a reliable replacement for the coming years, further increasing the pressure on the German.
Increasingly strained relationship
Ter Stegen's physical difficulties began to mark a turning point. After a serious knee injury that kept him off the field, the goalkeeper tried to quickly regain his starting spot, which created tensions with the coaching staff. Laporta and Deco, responsible for sports management, took note of these attitudes.
Meanwhile, Flick decided to bet on consolidating alternatives like Joan García, making it clear that trust in Ter Stegen was no longer the same. The German goalkeeper, convinced that he could still regain his best form, tried to hold on at the club. However, a new injury that required surgery ended up complicating his situation even more and sped up the search for solutions by the Barça board.
Date marked in red
Everything indicates that the decision has been made: Barça and Ter Stegen have reached an agreement to part ways starting in January.The club will take advantage of his absence due to injury to free up a large part of his salary and register all the footballers who were still pending registration in La Liga. In return, they've offered the goalkeeper the chance to leave as a free agent, with no transfer fee, once the winter transfer window opens.
This way, the German will be able to look for a new destination that guarantees him playing time and continuity. His departure will mark the end of a stage of more than a decade at Camp Nou. However, the club understands that it was a necessary step in its rebuilding process, while the player prioritizes continuing to compete at the highest level.