Ter Stegen adamant in Barcelona exit talks

Barcelona captain and goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen continues to be at the center of a complex situation at the club. The 33-year-old remains determined to compete with Joan Garcia for his place in the starting lineup, despite the club’s desire to offload him along with his substantial salary. The situation has created a stalemate, with interests from various parties making progress difficult.

Ter Stegen’s insistence on staying is partly influenced by his personal circumstances. Reports suggest he wishes to remain close to his children, fearing potential custody issues if he were to relocate. At the same time, the German national team has reportedly encouraged him to consider a move to secure regular playing time ahead of the World Cup.

Girona rumors and Ter Stegen’s conditions

Speculation has emerged linking ter Stegen with Girona, located slightly over an hour from Barcelona. The Catalan side is searching for a goalkeeper in January after Dominik Livakovic’s anticipated departure. A move there could allow ter Stegen to live in Barcelona while still getting minutes on the pitch.

However, according to Cadena SER via Sport, the goalkeeper has no interest in joining Girona. He is reportedly only open to transferring to a club he considers on par with Barcelona, suggesting he would only move to one of Europe’s top teams.

Barcelona’s transfer strategy

While Barcelona have stressed they will not push ter Stegen out, circumstances may shift after Andreas Christensen’s injury. The club is actively exploring defensive reinforcements and could leverage the emergency injury rule to create additional salary space. Moving ter Stegen and his wages could further expand their flexibility in the January transfer window, potentially allowing them to pursue key acquisitions.