National soccer goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen leaves the FC Barcelona and plays for the on loan until the end of the season FC Girona. The relegation-threatened club near the Catalan metropolis and “Barça” announced this on Tuesday evening. With the move, the former Gladbacher hopes to get more match practice so that he can be the number one goalkeeper for the German national team at the World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada.
Ter Stegen spoke up on Instagram in an emotional post: “I am deeply grateful and proud. I love this club, this city and this region. You have awakened a feeling in me that will never fade. Your support over the years has been incredible, I thank you from the bottom of my heart,” wrote the 33-year-old.
A few hours earlier, Barcelona’s German coach Hansi Flick talked about the upcoming change. “Marc is a fantastic goalkeeper. We made a different decision for the future and I think it was the right decision. But I wish him all the best.”
This also includes appearances in the DFB team: “Maybe we’ll see him in the German national team at the World Cup. Fingers crossed for that. I think he has a good chance,” said Flick.
A change was virtually inevitable for Ter Stegen in order to be number one at the World Cup. National coach Julian Nagelsmann had recently emphasized: “Marc either has to assert himself in Barcelona or find a club where he can play.”
Especially since ter Stegen’s representative in the DFB team, Oliver Baumann, was able to impress in the successful World Cup qualification in recent months. A possible return of Manuel Neuer was also debated again and again, at least in the media.
For a long time, Ter Stegen seemed to be the ideal choice in Barcelona. After his arrival over eleven years ago, he was praised even by stars like Lionel Messi for his footballing skills. And success came straight away: in 2015, ter Stegen already held the Champions League trophy in his hands. (dpa)
