Ter Stegen has gone through a complicated season and has been forced to reconsider his future, something that initially wasn't part of his plans. The German thought he would stay at FC Barcelona until 2028, which is when his contract ends, but something has changed. Although he wants to stay at the club, the year he spent out has made the board rethink things.
Barça is starting to recover from their financial problems and, with that, they've decided to sign a young goalkeeper who can guarantee years of glory for the Catalan side. The reality is that those in the City of Barcelona need young blood in goal and the one chosen to make it happen has been Joan García. With his arrival, Ter Stegen has been the center of attention, but his latest move has made everything much more complicated than expected.
Ter Stegen, Joan García and Barça
The goal at FC Barcelona has undergone many changes this season: from signing a retired goalkeeper to leaving out the one who was supposed to be Ter Stegen's replacement. The German has had to watch as he lost ground and couldn't do anything; the injury kept him completely out. When he recovered, his demands didn't please Flick or the board.
Ter Stegen pushed to play, since he believed he was fully recovered and deserved it. Even his agent called members of the board so his client could play in the Champions League semifinals. Anyway, Flick didn't let this influence his judgment and chose the newcomer, Szczesny.
A few weeks ago, Ter Stegen publicly said he wasn't going to leave and that he would compete with whoever necessary to get minutes. After the signing of Joan García became known, it seems the German started negotiating with Galatasaray. Far from what was desired, there has been a drastic turn that makes his departure from FC Barcelona even more complicated.
Ter Stegen's departure
According to several media outlets, Ter Stegen has rejected Galatasaray's first offer, so the Turkish side will have to propose better terms. It's likely that, no matter what they offer, the star won't leave and will cost the team he belongs to a lot of money. Although we can't take anything for granted, the situation is getting more complicated and the goalkeeper may not leave FC Barcelona this year.