Barcelona captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen could be heading for a shock exit as his relationship with manager Hansi Flick has reportedly gone sour in recent months.
According to the latest report from SPORT, Ter Stegen reacted badly to being overlooked in the latter stages of Barcelona’s Champions League run, having returned from a long-term knee injury in early May. Flick stuck with Wojciech Szczesny for the second leg of the semi-final against Inter, to Ter Stegen’s apparent displeasure.
But instead of travelling with the rest of the squad to Milan in support, like others who were unavailable did, he stayed behind to train alone.
Wojciech Szczęsny and Marc Andre Ter Stegen of FC Barcelona look on during a training session. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
Report claim Ter Stegen’s attitude hasn’t been well received by the rest of the squad and it might better explain why Barcelona have been so keen to sign Joan Garcia from Espanyol.
Garcia is expected to join Barcelona in the coming days and if confirmed, he’s expected to be installed as number one and Szczesny remains as backup, Ter Stegen will have to settle for the third-spot role.
Ter Stegen’s relationship with Flick is rumoured not to have been the best even before the latter arrived to succeed Xavi last summer. It stems from Flick’s time in charge of the German national team and his preference for Manuel Neuer, over Ter Stegen, as starter.
Barcelona stands to save significant money from a salary perspective if they can offload Ter Stegen and a separate SPORT report claims that the club are even prepared to offer a year’s wages as a lump sum to end his contract.
Staying at Barca as a third-choice goalkeeper might kill Ter Stegen’s chances of starting for Germany at the World Cup next summer but he’s expected to give Barcelona a tough task.
