Barcelona is preparing for a new season that will bring numerous technical and administrative changes, with Hansi Flick taking over as head coach, succeeding Xavi. It is clear that the Catalan club is moving toward a comprehensive restructuring of its starting lineup, particularly in certain sensitive positions that caused internal crises last season.
According to information from the Spanish newspaper El Nacional, one of the most pressing issues was the goalkeeping position, which witnessed significant tension between the management and technical staff on one side, and German goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen on the other. This prompted President Joan Laporta to make a radical decision that could potentially end the veteran goalkeeper’s career at Camp Nou.
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The crisis dates back to before the second leg of the Champions League semi-final against Inter Milan, when Ter Stegen’s agent approached sporting director Deco, demanding that his client be given the opportunity to start in the crucial European match. This move angered coach Hansi Flick, who saw it as an unacceptable interference in his technical responsibilities—especially since his decision to start Wojciech Szczęsny had already been made, not only for the Inter match but also for the upcoming El Clásico against Real Madrid.
Ter Stegen’s reaction was immediate: he decided not to travel with the team to Italy, creating a tense atmosphere in the dressing room and raising serious questions about his professionalism and commitment.
This incident proved to be the final straw between him and the coach. Flick expressed deep dissatisfaction with the goalkeeper’s behavior and emphasized that discipline must come before everything else within the team.
According to sources close to the club, President Joan Laporta, after consulting with Flick and Deco, decided to end Ter Stegen’s time with the team.
The decision was made to accelerate the signing of young goalkeeper Juan Garcia, who will become the first-choice goalkeeper starting next season, with Szczęsny serving as his main backup.
As for Ter Stegen, he has completely fallen out of favor at Barcelona and has been placed on the transfer list for the current summer window.
Despite his outstanding performances in the early years of his career with the club, his recent behavior—along with recurring injuries and a complete loss of trust—have led the management to conclude that he no longer fits within the club’s new sporting project.
