Ahead of their Spanish Super Cup semi-final against Athletic Club, FC Barcelona announced that captain and veteran goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen had suffered a fresh injury. Indeed, the Blaugrana confirmed that the 33-year-old will be returning to Catalonia after his injury, suffered during a training session, with Diego Kochen set to take his place in the squad. Loan move in jeopardy?
The report explains that Ter Stegen has been working closely with the German Football Association, who have drawn up a personalised plan to make him Germany's starting goalkeeper at the next World Cup. This strategy does not require a full-time starting role in La Liga or the Champions League, but rather a carefully managed season focused on rhythm, fitness, and high-level competitive matches.
I proposed it to Sandro Rosell and he said, 'Well, see if it can be done...'. Then, when he took it to the Technical Secretariat, they stopped us,
A new report from SPORT has added fresh clarity to the growing uncertainty around Marc-Andre ter Stegen's future at Barcelona. Ahead of his return, the German goalkeeper is carefully assessing his next steps, and as he weighs up his options, Turkish giants Besiktas have once again emerged as a serious contender eager to give him the chance to rediscover his rhythm.
It has now been over three months since the goalkeeper underwent back surgery. Initially, Ter Stegen himself had estimated his recovery period to be around three months, setting his own timeline via social media shortly after the operation. However, that timeframe has now expired, and he has still not returned to group training, although he has resumed training on the pitch.
Chelsea are reportedly exploring a sensational loan move for Marc-Andre ter Stegen, with the Barcelona goalkeeper said to be open to a change after nearly a decade as the Catalans' undisputed No. 1. The 33-year-old German has found himself unexpectedly marginalised following Barca's decision to invest 25 million in Joan Garcia, the former Espanyol star whose rise has prompted a recalibration of the goalkeeping hierarchy at the Camp Nou.