On Tuesday, international media claimed that Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen trained alone after returning to preseason on Sunday amid mounting uncertainty over his future at the club.
Barcelona players had medical exams on Sunday and trained for the first time under new coach Hansi Flick on Monday, according to a report. Ter Stegen was absent from group activities. He worked out alone and missed both Tuesday sessions, according to the club.
Barcelona will begin their preseason tour of Asia next week with friendlies in Japan and South Korea. It is uncertain if Ter Stegen will travel with the team.
After Claudio Bravo left for Manchester City in 2016, the 33-year-old German international has been Barcelona’s first-choice goalkeeper since 2016.
His status in the squad has apparently declined after the club bought Joan Garcia from Espanyol for €25 million this summer.
The club has notified Ter Stegen that he is no longer in their long-term plans and encouraged him to go, according to media sources. The goalkeeper reportedly wants to stay at the club.
Barcelona thinks Ter Stegen will change his mind, especially since the club wants him to win Germany’s top spot before next summer’s internationals.
Garcia, who signed a two-year contract, will likely be the starting goalkeeper.
Barcelona signed Wojciech Szczesny to replace Ter Stegen after his devastating knee injury in late September. In the last stages of the season, Ter Stegen made two appearances, but Szczesny kept his spot for crucial matches.
