The Blaugrana wanted rid of the Germany goalkeeper, but he's not going anywhere and seems intent on making life very difficult for his employers
Barcelona are arguably the most exciting team in world football right now. Because of their fantastic forwards and ridiculously high defensive line, Hansi Flick's men pretty much guarantee goals at both ends of the pitch, as so thrillingly underlined by their epic Champions League semi-final loss to Inter.
However, Barca are also tremendously entertaining off the field – and particularly during transfer windows. During the Josep Maria Bartomeu era, it was always fun to see which ridiculously expensive and utterly superfluous addition would be made to the squad. Since the election of lever-pulling Joan Laporta as president, the focus has shifted to trying to figure out how on earth the Blaugrana will balance the books.
It's always highly amusing watching Barca sign players they can't afford before then going to comical lengths to try to register the new arrivals with La Liga. In that sense, the Spanish champions are a journalist's dream, an endless supply of drama.
However, even by the Catalans' ludicrously high standards, the 2025 summer could be something special, as the stage is now set for an incredibly compelling soap opera starring Marc-Andre ter Stegen that could end very badly for Barca…
Getty Images Sport'Guarantee in goal'
Barcelona were only too happy to see Ter Stegen sign a contract extension in August 2023. For starters, the German had been named the best player in La Liga after keeping a record-equalling 26 clean sheets during the Blaugrana's 2022-23 title triumph.
As far as Laporta was concerned, Barca boasted the best shot-stopper in world football. "Ter Stegen is a guarantee in goal," the Catalan enthused at the time. "And he is a person of real value. He has adapted to the club, the city, and the country – and that is why he is one of the team captains. We are delighted to have him."
However, of even greater satisfaction to Laporta was the fact that Ter Stegen had agreed to stagger his salary in such a way that it afforded the club more wiggle room within La Liga's strict wage bill regulations. "We have to thank him for restricting his contract because it allowed us to sign other players," the Barca president acknowledged.
It wasn't the first time that Ter Stegen had helped Barca make ends meet either, as his previous extension, signed during the economic crisis caused by the pandemic, had also included a wage deferral that significantly eased the pressure on his employers. The problem for Barca, though, is that Ter Stegen is no longer feeling quite so agreeable towards a club still strapped for cash.
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Only last year, Ter Stegen was announced as Barca's new captain after the departure of Sergi Roberto. The Germany international had already worn the armband on several occasions, so it didn't come as a surprise to see the majority of the squad vote in favour of a player with 10 years of service under his belt.
"We start this new season with great enthusiasm and welcome the new coach (Flick)," Ter Stegen said in his first public address last August. "We hope it will be a season with many successes." And it was. Despite suffering heartbreak in the Champions League, Barca beat hated rivals Real Madrid four times in total on their way to winning a domestic treble.
Ter Stegen, though, played very little part in Barca's re-emergence as a major force due to a patellar tendon rupture in his right knee that sidelined him for seven months and limited him to just nine appearances in all competitions. By the time he was ready to return to action, at the start of May, a lot had changed.
(C)Getty ImagesSzczesny takes his chance
Ter Stegen's injury was a major problem for Barcelona, and the best they could do was come up with a stop-gap solution in Wojciech Szczesny. However, the Pole proved an inspired signing.
Szczesny had only just announced his retirement from football, after parting company with Juventus, and was initially brought on board solely to provide cover for Inaki Pena – but he turned out to be a far more competent replacement for Ter Stegen. The 35-year-old kept 14 clean sheets in his 30 appearances in all competitions and didn't once finish on the losing side in a league game – which helps explain why Barca decided to extend his contract until 2027 on July 7.
By that stage, though, the Blaugrana had already done another deal that made it clear that Ter Stegen was now surplus to requirements.
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On June 18, Barca confirmed the arrival of Joan Garcia from city rivals Espanyol after meeting the €25 million (£21m/$29m) buy-out clause in the 24-year-old's contract. The decision to bring in another goalkeeper raised a lot of eyebrows. With Ter Stegen fit again and Szczesny having done a great job in his absence, it felt like Barca had more pressing needs.
However, sporting director Deco somewhat understandably felt that the chance to sign one of the most highly-rated goalkeepers in Spain for such a low price was too good to pass up. "I have a lot of respect for Marc, but with Joan we had to make a decision for the present and future," the former Portugal midfielder explained in an interview with . "He might play straight away or he might be on the bench or play in one or two years. The manager will have to decide."