Barcelona Dismiss January Exit Rumors for Ter Stegen

Barcelona deny plans to sell Marc-André ter Stegen in January, emphasizing his role as captain. They explain the smart strategy behind signing Joan García.

NO EXIT PLANNED FOR TER STEGEN

Deco confirms Ter Stegen won’t leave in January. He tells Mundo Deportivo, “If fit, he’d play. He’s our captain.” The club sees Joan García’s arrival as smart planning, not a move against Ter Stegen. A recent report also established that rumors about Ter Stegen moving to Inter Milan are false, confirming that there have been no talks between the two clubs.

SERIES OF DRAMA WITH THE CLUB AND THE PLAYER

This update follows a chaotic preseason for Ter Stegen. He argued with the board over medical records and contracts, which is at the center of a dispute that previously resulted in him being stripped of the captaincy due to confusion over his recovery time and paperwork, as noted in a report on the situation. Ter Stegen has also been left out of the formal La Liga squad list. Despite these challenges, he remains part of the team that has won many trophies since he joined in 2014. He’ll be benched at the start of the season while new signing Joan García steps up. Barcelona ended 2024-25 second in La Liga, behind Real Madrid, but remain hopeful they can compete for a return to the top under head coach Hansi Flick this season.

LOOKING AHEAD: SQUAD FOCUS AND KEY FIXTURES

Barcelona aim to stay in title contention while Ter Stegen recovers. New signing García begins the campaign as the club’s No. 1. The Blaugrana face a tough game against fellow title contenders Sevilla on Saturday as La Liga resumes after facing PSG for the Champions League this Wednesday. Currently, Barcelona is in a strong position, having secured a recent victory over Real Sociedad to remain one point ahead of Real Madrid.