🚨 World Cup starting spot now secure? Media: ter Stegen finds new club

If Marc-André ter Stegen wants to be in goal for Germany at the 2026 World Cup, he must leave FC Barcelona this winter. This impression has become increasingly clear recently. According to consistent reports from Fabrizio Romano and Sky, the 33-year-old has now found a solution.

Accordingly, the Mönchengladbach native will remain in Catalonia and join FC Girona on loan. Last season, the Blanquivermells were still competing in the Champions League, but the club is currently in acute danger of relegation. Eighth place in the table may look solid, but it is deceptive, as the gap to a relegation spot is only five points.

This is unlikely to harm ter Stegen’s World Cup chances. National coach Julian Nagelsmann recently emphasized: “I’m not setting the condition that he has to play for a top club, because that’s always a matter of interpretation.” However, ter Stegen does have to “play reasonably well.”

This opportunity has recently been denied to the regular captain at Barça. While he struggled with injuries for months, Hansi Flick initiated a generational change at Blaugrana.

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24-year-old Joan Garcia was signed last summer and declared the new first-choice goalkeeper. Flick recently reaffirmed this decision.

In the cup match against third-division side CD Guadalajara, ter Stegen was allowed to play again before Christmas. Afterwards, his coach made it clear: “We discussed it within the coaching staff and said: Okay, we’ll give him the opportunity to show that he’s back. But it’s for this game, that’s all, nothing more.”

At Girona, the prospects for more playing time look much brighter. With 34 goals conceded, Girona has so far let in the most goals in the Spanish top flight. The starting spot between the posts has so far been held by Paulo Gazzaniga. Ter Stegen will likely push him to the bench and hope that better times are ahead.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

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