Szczesny was supposed to start in Barcelona’s Copa del Rey round of 32 match against Guadalajara on Tuesday, but at the last minute, Hansi Flick decided to field Ter Stegen, despite the German coach’s desire to get rid of his compatriot from the Catalan club. This raised many questions about the reasons behind the decision.
Flick announced in the pre-match press conference that first-choice goalkeeper Juan García would be rested and would not play against Guadalajara. According to the newspaper “Sport,” Szczesny was set to start, sending a clear message from the coach to Ter Stegen that he should look for a new club.
The surprise was that Ter Stegen played, but even more surprising was the fact that Barça wanted to market the German goalkeeper for a transfer to another club in the upcoming winter transfer window.
Flick spoke with Szczesny and Ter Stegen a few hours before the match, and after the conversation, he decided to start the German. Flick, along with the Barcelona management, felt it was best for Ter Stegen to play, sending a message to all European clubs that the goalkeeper had recovered and could compete at the highest level.
Flick maintains the established goalkeeping hierarchy, with Garcia as the first-choice keeper and Szczesny as his backup. Ter Stegen’s appearance against Guadalajara was seen as an attempt to increase the 33-year-old’s chances of leaving in the upcoming transfer window.
Ter Stegen wasn’t upset by Flick’s decision; on the contrary, he saw it as support to take the next step in his career and maintain his hopes of playing in the 2026 World Cup. This might ultimately lead him to accept one of the many offers he has received.
It’s worth noting that international media outlets have reported that Ter Stegen received offers from Bologna, Besiktas, and Ajax, but he rejected them all, preferring to play for a top club in one of Europe’s five major leagues during the six months leading up to the World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
