The Germany international is considered surplus to requirements at the club, with Joan Garcia and Wojciech Szczęsny preferred as first and second choice goalkeepers
The possibility of Marc-Andre ter Stegen staying at Barcelona has continued to dwindle after the German goalkeeper trained separately from the first team during the opening week of pre-season.
The 33-year-old has been working alone in the gym since players returned to the Ciutat Esportiva on Sunday for medical testing and team sessions for the start of pre-season activities. The club confirmed Ter Stegen did not join group training on either Monday or Tuesday.
Barcelona will fly out to Asia next week for friendlies in Japan and South Korea, but it remains unclear whether Ter Stegen will be part of the travelling squad. Club sources say the decision has not yet been made.
Ter Stegen joined Barcelona from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2014 and was the undisputed first-choice goalkeeper from 2016 to this year, when he returned from a long-term injury and was unable to get back into Hansi Flick’s starting XI.
His status appears to have diminished even further after Barcelona signed Joan Garcia from Espanyol this summer for €25m, before offering the impressive Wojciech Szczęsny a contract renewal.
Barcelona’s internal plan is for Garcia to be the new No 1 heading into the 2025-26 season, with Szczęsny – who came out of retirement last year to replace the injured Ter Stegen – serving as his backup. With Ter Stegen only two years younger than the 35-year-old Szczęsny it is difficult for Barcelona to keep the German around and pay his enormous wages.
Despite being informed by the club that he is no longer in their plans, however, Ter Stegen has not expressed a willingness to move on.
The German is under contract until 2028, so Barcelona would struggle to get him out against his wish. One thing that could fall in the club’s favour is Ter Stegen’s desire to play for Germany in the World Cup next year. His position in the squad, and certainly as Germany’s No 1, would come under threat if he lacks game time.
Inaki Pena is the club’s third-choice goalkeeper. He was displaced as first choice last season by Szczęsny when Ter Stegen was injured. He has trained with the squad this week but is understood to be exploring options to leave the club in search of regular minutes.
