What needs to happen for Ter Stegen to end up at Girona?
At Montilivi, they are seriously exploring the possibility of signing a German goalkeeper, who needs playing time to prepare for the World Cup.
GironaThe loan of Marc-André ter Stegen in Girona Things are starting to simmer. The Girona club truly values the arrival of the German goalkeeper from Barça until the end of the season, but the deal, as it stands, has a long way to go. Ter Stegen needs to play if he wants to be in top form for next summer's World Cup, where he could be Germany's starting goalkeeper, something that has always been denied him due to Manuel Neuer's presence. He won't be the starter at Camp Nou, unless something unfortunate happens to Joan Garcia, signed to usher in an era. He could be the starter at Montilivi, which needs a reliable goalkeeper after four seasons of Paulo Gazzaniga's reign that seem to be coming to an end.
On paper, everything fits: Barça would get rid of a problem, the German would get playing time, and Girona would secure a top-level number one with whom to try to reverse the negative trend that has kept them in decline since the beginning of the season. But money is the big question mark in this puzzle. The people of Girona can't afford to pay his salary, not even as a joke. detail Barça is fully aware of this and hopes it will be resolved externally: to finalize the loan, Barça must assume the majority of Ter Stegen's salary, and at first glance, he doesn't seem willing to forgo a single euro of his contract, which ends in 2028. All parties are thoroughly studying each step. Girona is eyeing Barça's goalkeeper, yes, but Barça is happy for the rumors to grow, because they can use them, if necessary, as leverage against Ter Stegen, who holds the upper hand financially, but has yet to speak out. At the Aristides Maillol offices, they'd be celebrating if they could save the salary of the last goalkeeper to win a Champions League with the club, in 2015.
Meanwhile, at the Catalan football stars' gala, Míchel, who received an award for his commitment to the Catalan language and culture, admitted, after joking with a "now plan, don't mess around" that "Ter Stegen is a player top"Everyone would like to have a goalkeeper like him." Girona isn't the only team interested in the German, who played again in the Copa del Rey match in Guadalajara, but geography works in Girona's favor, because the distance between the two Catalan cities would allow the German to also be close to his family.
In fact, as reported by Sport newspaperOfficials from Girona have contacted José Ramón de la Fuente, goalkeeping coach at Barça and former Girona goalkeeper in his youth, to resolve doubts about Ter Stegen's physical condition. From the He assured them he was fully recovered from the lower back injury that sidelined him for four months. With the approval of Flick and Laporta, and of Míchel and Quique Cárcel on the sporting side, the only missing piece, and the most complicated one, is reaching an agreement in the offices.
No senior replacement for Gazzaniga
The goalkeeping situation at Montilivi is dire, and this is the second year in a row it's been going on, with the memory of Pau López still fresh. Dominik Livakovic, in fact, didn't even show up for the return to training, with the club's approval, to sort out his future. The Croatian will cut short his loan for the same reason that might have led Ter Stegen to sign one: his participation in the World Cup. Míchel only trusted Gazzaniga, despite Girona having conceded the most goals in the competition, with 33 in 17 matches, and despite the Argentine having some forgettable performances. However, when he wanted to make a change and start Livakovic, the latter refused to play, fed up with being a substitute, because if he did, he wouldn't be able to leave in the winter transfer window, as will ultimately happen. For now, Míchel has Gazzaniga and the young Andreev, who isn't even a starter for the reserve team, because Krapyvtsov and Juan Carlos are injured.
The relationship between Girona and Barça is good, and the two clubs have worked together on various strategic moves recently. Cases like those of Oriol Romeu, Pablo Torre, Pau Víctor, Óscar Ureña, and Eric Garcia have solidified a transfer pathway that didn't exist in previous seasons. However, the Ter Stegen option is a completely different negotiation and would be a real bombshell for Girona, who, to start the transfer window, have already secured Claudio Echeverri and, to kick off their 2026 campaign, will visit Mallorca this Sunday (6:30 PM, Movistar LaLiga).