Questions and answers about Ter Stegen's surprise starting position
After four months out, the German returned to play: why did Hansi Flick start him?
BarcelonaAround 7:30 in the evening, the news broke. The club announced that Marc-André ter Stegen would return to the starting lineup against Guadalajara. After more than four months out injured and a summer of back-and-forth with the club—first to force his departure after the signing of Joan Garcia, and then, precisely, due to the dispute over the length of his absence—the German once again donned the captain's armband and played the full 90 minutes. His starting position surprised many Barcelona fans. The final decision was made by Hansi Flick after discussions with his coaching staff at the last minute.
Why did Ter Stegen start?
On the one hand, the coach considered it appropriate to showcase the player. Although the goalkeeper wasn't expected to be called into action much in the friendly against Guadalajara – he only had one noteworthy save, a long-range shot – it was the moment to demonstrate that he is fully recovered and fit to play. Club sources consulted by this newspaper explain that Ter Stegen was responding "very well" to the physical demands of training, even before being cleared to play. If there had been any doubt about his fitness after four months out, Flick would have been the first to not play him, even though the match was against a lower-division opponent.
On the other hand, it was also a gesture of respect towards the player. "He's the team captain. He had the opportunity to return and we gave it to him. He's been at Barça for many years, he's given a lot to this club, and we have to respect that. We spoke with the coaching staff and we felt he had to play," the manager said after the match. Earlier, he had already warned that Ter Stegen would only play "this game."
What else might have influenced Hansi Flick's decision?
Aside from the desire to demonstrate that Ter Stegen is fit – and thus facilitate his departure in January – and to show respect for a player who has been with the club for over a decade, speculation in Germany suggests another factor related to next summer's World Cup. Manuel Neuer, the undisputed starter for Bayern Munich, is ineligible for selection because he retired from international football after Euro 2024. The current starting goalkeeper for Germany has been the veteran Oliver Baumann, seemingly an easy competitor for Ter Stegen, although the Hoffenheim goalkeeper is performing well. Some German media outlets have reported a phone conversation between national team coach Julian Nagelsmann – acting at the request of his goalkeeping coach, Andreas Kronenberg, to whom Nagelsmann grants considerable autonomy – and Hansi Flick, in which Nagelsmann was expected to make the request. Barcelona has not confirmed this information, which has been reported as fact in some German publications.
What will it take for Ter Stegen to accept a transfer?
Ter Stegen has a contract until 2028, with one of the highest salaries on the team and the right to be paid every last cent. If Barça wants to let him go, they will have to pay his entire contract. The German would like to go to a top-level team, and this would mean looking towards England, towards the Premier League, where the English press has reported on a supposed interest from Tottenham. Interest that the Catalan club would welcome with open arms, but which, at the moment, they are not taking for granted. Anything that saves part of Ter Stegen's salary would be good news for Barça's strained coffers.
Nagelsmann, who spoke with the goalkeeper by phone in early November, made it clear during the last international break that if he wants to be at the World Cup, Ter Stegen must play. "I think the winter transfer window is never easy. It doesn't necessarily have to be at a club." top"The most important thing is that he plays, regardless of whether it's an absolutely elite club or not. He's a very good goalkeeper and I'm confident he'll find a good solution and be able to play regularly," said the manager of the Mannschaft.
The footballer's strong family ties to Barcelona also complicate his departure. After divorcing Daniel Jehle, with whom he has two children, leaving the Catalan capital would also mean being far from his children. Jehle owns an architecture and interior design studio in the city. Ter Stegen's current partner is Ona Sellarès, who celebrated the captain's return to the goal on Tuesday with an Instagram post. At Barça, they admit that the decision "is in Ter Stegen's hands."
