Barcelona’s goalkeeper, Marc-André ter Stegen, has been training individually since the team began preseason on Sunday, with ongoing questions surrounding his future at the club.
After undergoing medical evaluations on Sunday, he did not participate with his teammates during Monday’s practice led by coach Hansi Flick, and the club reported that he was training alone in the gym.
On Tuesday, he again did not join the squad for either training session, according to the club’s statement.
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Barcelona is set to travel to Asia next week for a preseason friendly against teams from Japan and South Korea, but it remains uncertain if Ter Stegen will be part of the traveling squad.
At 33, Ter Stegen has been with Barça since 2014, establishing himself as the first-choice keeper in 2016 after Claudio Bravo’s transfer to Manchester City.
However, his position has come under threat this summer following the acquisition of Joan García from Espanyol for €25 million.
Reports indicate that the club has suggested Ter Stegen consider leaving, but he has expressed a desire to remain.
Despite this, the team hopes he may reconsider if it becomes apparent that he won’t be starting ahead of the next summer’s World Cup, where he aims to be Germany’s first-choice goalkeeper.
The plan for Barcelona is for García to be supported by Wojciech Szczęsny, who recently signed a two-year extension with the club.
Szczęsny joined Barça last summer while Ter Stegen was recovering from a significant knee injury that sidelined him towards the end of September.
Ter Stegen made a few appearances as the season closed, but Szczęsny retained his position for crucial matches.
García and Szczęsny are participating in the training sessions this week along with Iñaki Peña, who previously served as Ter Stegen’s backup but was replaced last season and is now looking for more consistent playing time.
Sources have indicated that Peña is considering opportunities outside of Barcelona to find regular football.
Fan Take: This situation is pivotal for soccer enthusiasts as it highlights the ongoing evolution of player dynamics at major clubs like Barcelona. Ter Stegen’s future directly impacts the performance and strategy of the team, making it crucial for fans to keep an eye on how this unfolds, especially ahead of significant international tournaments.
