Barcelona Sporting Director Delivers Blunt "Nothing to Talk About" Warning to Ter Stegen

Marc-André ter Stegen's position as Barcelona's captain and primary goalkeeper faces significant uncertainty moving forward.

The acquisition of Joan García by Barcelona poses a direct challenge to Ter Stegen's role as the club's number one keeper. With Wojciech Szczęsny likely to remain at the club for an extended period, additional doubts emerge about Ter Stegen's future status.

During a recent conversation with La Vanguardia, Barcelona's sporting director Deco discussed the club's goalkeeper dynamics and shared his perspective on Ter Stegen's situation.

"There's no need for me to have discussions with him [ter Stegen]," Deco explained. "My responsibility is to construct the most competitive squad for our coach. Additionally, no contract provides a guarantee of playing time. The coach makes these decisions, and each player has personal aspirations.

"I hold great respect for Marc [ter Stegen], but regarding Joan [García], we needed to make a choice considering both immediate needs and long-term planning. He could feature tomorrow, remain as a substitute, or become a regular in the coming years. This determination rests with the coach," Deco continued.

The former footballer now serving as sporting director emphasized that neither he nor other club officials would pressure Ter Stegen into seeking opportunities elsewhere, noting that no signals have been received indicating the player's intention to depart.

"When a player expresses a desire to leave, it becomes extremely difficult to retain them, but that scenario doesn't apply at present," Deco stated.

The 33-year-old shot-stopper addressed his Barcelona future while on international duty with the UEFA Nations League, revealing his anticipation of remaining with the Catalan club for the upcoming campaign.

Nevertheless, this situation remains dynamic. Should Hansi Flick decide to install García as Barcelona's first-choice goalkeeper for the 2025–26 season, Ter Stegen might face choosing between accepting a substitute role or pursuing opportunities elsewhere to secure regular minutes ahead of the crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup.