Ter Stegen is deeply disappointed after a harsh message from coach Hansi Flick during Barcelona’s Copa del Rey Round of 16 match against Racing Santander.
Ter Stegen played in the first leg of the cup competition and hoped to return to the starting lineup, at least for the remainder of the tournament, if not for the main competitions (La Liga and the Champions League).
However, Flick was clear in his decision: Juan García is and will remain Barcelona’s first-choice goalkeeper. He demonstrated this by starting the Spanish goalkeeper against Racing Santander, a move that, according to Sport, “broke Ter Stegen’s heart.”
García delivered a stellar performance, saving Barcelona from defeat against Racing Santander and continuing his impressive form this season. Meanwhile, Wojciech Szczęsny remains his de facto backup, not Ter Stegen.
The German, for his part, has come to realize that he is Barcelona’s third-choice goalkeeper and that he must find a new club as soon as possible. Otherwise, his dream of playing in the 2026 World Cup will inevitably slip away. He is now more open to leaving, having clung until recently to a glimmer of hope of once again guarding the Catalan goal.
The coming days may witness a serious move from Ter Stegen towards a transfer to Girona, the ideal club for him, where he would be guaranteed consistent playing time until the end of the season and, consequently, a place in Germany’s 2026 World Cup squad.
It’s worth noting that Julian Nagelsmann confirmed that Ter Stegen’s only path to the World Cup is to play regularly after returning from injury, emphasizing that the type of club or competition he participates in is less important than his consistent presence on the pitch.
