In no uncertain terms, Barcelona coach Hansi Flick announced who will be the Catalan club’s first-choice goalkeeper for the remainder of the season.
Ter Stegen has recovered from the injury that sidelined him since last June and is now ready to return to action.
Meanwhile, Juan Garcia continues to impress for Barcelona this season, with Wojciech Szczęsny serving as his backup. Garcia played between October and November while the Spaniard was injured.
Before Barcelona’s Champions League match against Eintracht Frankfurt, Flick was asked who would be Barcelona’s starting goalkeeper and whether he faced a dilemma with three of the world’s best goalkeepers.
Flick responded directly, saying, “It’s clear to me, Juan Garcia is Barcelona’s number one.”
At the same time, the newspaper Sport confirmed that Szczęsny will remain Barcelona’s second-choice goalkeeper this season, and that Ter Stegen will be Flick’s third choice. This decision increases the likelihood of Ter Stegen leaving Barcelona this winter, amidst strong interest from Turkish clubs.
Germany’s national team coach, Julian Nagelsmann, stated that the only way for Ter Stegen to participate in the 2026 World Cup is to play consistently and maintain a high level of performance for the remainder of the season, practically necessitating his departure from Camp Nou, even if only on loan.
