Amid the transfer window storm, the fate of Barca’s captain Marc Andre Ter Stegen remains uncertain. With Joan Garcia’s signing all but done, the German keeper’s starting spot in the team is not guaranteed.
How Joan Garcia’s arrival will affect Ter Stegen
Joan Garcia is a promising signing for Barcelona as the club seeks to reinforce the goalkeeper position. Wojciech Szczęsny is being convinced by the club to stay one more season, as the board was impressed by his performances the previous season, especially in the Champions League. All this leaves little space in the squad for captain Marc-Andre Ter Stegen. The German keeper has not been consistent enough in recent years, particularly in the European competitions. Ter Stegen has cost Barcelona Champions League elimination in a lot of seasons, and the club think it is time for a change.
Things get further complicated for the Germans when you consider that the newly signed Joan Garcia was the best keeper in the league. The Catalan keeper put out statement performances throughout the season, the most notable of them being against Real Madrid. It is worth noting that Joan Garcia crowned himself the best keeper in the league while playing for a relegation-struggling Espanyol.
Ter Stegen’s stubbornness:
Ter Stegen is a Barcelona legend without a doubt. The German has won many titles with the club, including a treble in the 2014/2015 season under Luis Enrique. However, now that the club thinks it’s time for new blood to come in, Ter Stegen refuses to leave. Barcelona are looking to put him on the market now that Joan Garcia’s signing is sealed, but Ter Stegen is reluctant to stay as he thinks he still has enough in him to compete for his spot. Several clubs have inquired about Barcelona’s keeper, including the Turkish side Galatasaray. Barcelona are now pushing for Ter Stegen’s sale to free the wage bill and make revenue for future signings.
The best decision for the legend?
In my opinion, Ter Stegen either has to accept a secondary position in the squad or leave the club as a legend. It is high time for a change between the sticks at Barcelona, and Ter Stegen should act like the legend he is and step down by putting the club first. He should learn from the fans’ criticism of legends like Piqué, who stayed more than they should have and should leave with the blessings of Culers.
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