Marc André ter Stegen’s long road back from summer back surgery is almost over. After months of rehab, the 33-year-old has rejoined group sessions and is progressing smoothly, showing no lingering discomfort from the operation he underwent in late July. His return has been gradual and carefully managed, but the expectation within the club is that he could receive medical clearance as early as next week.
For now, though, Joan Garcia keeps the No. 1 shirt. The young keeper has impressed Hansi Flick since preseason, and barring an unexpected twist, he is set to remain the starter even once Ter Stegen is fully fit. That reality leaves the German in a complicated position. Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann has made it clear that he needs minutes to secure his place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and sitting on the bench in Barcelona will not help him get there.
Publicly, Ter Stegen has repeated that he wants to stay and fight for his spot. Privately, his representatives are reportedly surveying the market in case he chooses to push for a January move. Radio reports in Spain suggest that several clubs would be willing to take him on loan if he decides to leave, though his sizeable salary would likely require Barcelona to shoulder part of it.
Inside the club, the tone is slightly different. According to rumors, executives say the relationship with Ter Stegen is good again after the disagreements last summer, and they insist his contract will be respected. They also maintain that the first step must come from him if he wants to leave midseason.
Deco has tried to cool the noise around the situation. Speaking to local media this week, the sporting director reiterated that “the first thing is to recover” before talking about a potential winter exit. He also noted that Ter Stegen will “surely look for options to play” with the World Cup approaching, but stopped short of confirming whether the club expects him to go. On Thursday he was even firmer, saying there were no plans for any departures in January.
According to reports, president Joan Laporta acknowledges that Ter Stegen will not start under Flick, but he does not intend to force a move or actively seek suitors. Instead, the club is prepared to let circumstances take their natural course. If the goalkeeper decides he wants regular football elsewhere, Barcelona will listen. If not, he could remain in a reduced role through the end of the season.
