Marc André ter Stegen is once again at the center of Barcelona’s sporting discussion. Five months after undergoing surgery and without competitive minutes since May, the German goalkeeper returned to action in the Copa del Rey against Guadalajara, a match that carried more significance than it seemed on paper.
Hansi Flick’s decision to start Ter Stegen raised eyebrows. The expectation was that Wojciech Szczęsny, last season’s cup final starter, would get the nod, especially with Joan Garcia firmly established as the number one in La Liga and the UEFA Champions League. Instead, Flick opted for the German, clarifying that, “Ter Stegen is only for this match,” when asked whether he had become the second-choice keeper.
Behind the scenes, the call was anything but random. According to SPORT, a meeting involving Flick, Ter Stegen and Szczęsny took place just hours before kickoff. In that conversation, the Polish goalkeeper suggested that Ter Stegen, as captain and after a long recovery, deserved the opportunity. Flick valued the gesture and ultimately agreed that the Copa was the right setting for the German to regain match sharpness.
After the win, Flick highlighted both the context and the result. “For me, Marc is the captain. It was a good opportunity for him, he has given a lot to the club. We spoke with the coaching staff and decided he would play. Only for this match,” he said. He added, “I’m happy with the attitude and with the victory. These matches are never easy. We’re into the next round, which is the most important thing.”
Ter Stegen’s appearance inevitably feeds into a bigger conversation about his future. According to Mundo Deportivo, the goalkeeper is weighing two main scenarios: staying until the end of the season while accepting a non-starting role, or seeking a loan move in the winter window to secure regular minutes ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The player himself has not publicly defined his plans, although sources in Germany have linked his thinking to maintaining his status with the national team.
Interest from abroad is already gathering pace. According to reports, clubs such as AS Monaco, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, Manchester United, Beşiktaş and Bayern Munich are monitoring the situation. Barcelona, for their part, are aware that Ter Stegen’s salary is among the highest in the squad, and that giving him some minutes could be used as an opportunity to attract buyers.
