Ter Stegen's big decision

Barcelona"We haven't decided yet. It's not the day to make any decisions. I want to wait until tomorrow," said Hansi Flick before his Barça side's first Copa del Rey match of the season. The question—or rather, questions, because he dodged four in a row on the subject right at the start of the press conference—was about the goalkeeper position. In La Liga and the Champions League, the spot is well covered by Joan Garcia, "the number one" according to the German coach. However, in the Copa del Rey, the player from Sallent will initially rest, which makes Tuesday's round of 32 tie in Guadalajara (9 p.m., Movistar) a match that could definitively confirm his ostracism. Marc-André ter Stegen, a captain in a slump.

Now recovered from his back injury, the German goalkeeper has spent two matches on the bench at the Camp Nou (against Eintracht Frankfurt and Osasuna) and is headed for his first away game, where all indications are that he will once again be a substitute. Sources within the Barcelona dressing room, consulted by ARA, suspect that Flick will opt for Wojciech Szczesny at the Pedro Escartín stadium, which would confirm that Ter Stegen is, de factoTer Stegen, the third-choice goalkeeper in the squad. Despite sharing a similar background, the captain and the manager have only a cordial relationship after a tense summer when the goalkeeper refused to sign a club medical report to free up part of his salary for Joan Garcia. At that time, Flick was already disappointed with Ter Stegen, who, in the decisive stretch of last season, having recovered from a long-term knee injury, failed to understand that Szczesny was the one who should finish the season.

"Marc is a fantastic goalkeeper, but I'm delighted with the three I have [...]. Tek helped us a lot last year and also this season, when Joan was injured. He's useful on the pitch, but also off it," stated the Barça coach, who has always been delighted with Szczesny's performance and attitude. However, he can't say the same about Ter Stegen. In fact, unlike other aspects related to the first team's day-to-day operations, in this case he is completely aligned with the club's policy, which is to back Joan Garcia and wait for the captain, despite having a guaranteed contract until 2028, to leave if he wants quality playing time.

Ter Stegen: a very strong bond with Barcelona and Barça

Being a substitute in Guadalajara would send a clear message. However, sources close to Ter Stegen maintain that the player prioritizes fighting for a place at Barça over making moves to leave in this winter transfer window. In maintaining this stance, the German is mindful that he has two and a half years of guaranteed contract – signed in collusion with the current Barça administration – and €40 million gross to be earned. Furthermore, he is happy in Barcelona, ​​where he fathered two children and rebuilt his life after separating from his long-term partner. If he has to leave, therefore, it won't be just anywhere or at any price.

In the sporting and executive offices of Barça, however, there is a feeling that Ter Stegen will eventually face the inevitable. Perhaps not now, but in a few weeks, when he realizes he is not an option for the Spanish Super Cup either. Joan Laporta and Anderson Luis de Souza, DecoThey haven't forgotten that it's a World Cup year and that the Mönchengladbach goalkeeper has a clear path to becoming Germany's starter because Manuel Neuer is no longer eligible. The only condition set by the national team coach, Julian Nagelsmann, is that he gets playing time, something that will be difficult at Barça if Joan Garcia is the undisputed starter and the first choice to replace him is Szczesny. Therefore, with the winter transfer window open, it will only be a matter of time before a concrete offer arrives, even if it's for a short stay of less than six months on loan. The hot potato is now solely in the goalkeeper's clumsy hands. As Flick has said on more than one occasion, "it's his decision."