‘I’m at another club’ — Ter Stegen on Barcelona future
Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s road back to relevance had been a long one, but it took a decisive turn this week when Jurgen Klopp named him in his first Germany squad. The goalkeeper started in goal for the Nations League opener against Xavi Hernandez’s Netherlands, his first meaningful international action in some time, and the appearance carried obvious weight given how his Barcelona career had wound down before he left on loan for Ajax Amsterdam.
Speaking to the media after the match, Ter Stegen addressed his former club directly, according to Mundo Deportivo. His comments touched on his Barcelona future and the uncertainty surrounding his status at the club, even as he made clear his present is now elsewhere.
“They are unstoppable at the moment, and that is what I wish for them because they are working hard with Hansi as their manager. From a distance, obviously, I wish them all the best. But I’m at another club and focused on my own things. I’m always keeping an eye on what they are doing, though, and I’m very happy for them that things are going so well,”
Ter Stegen said, in comments carried after the final whistle.
The remarks landed against a summer of significant change at Barcelona. The club brought in seven new players, while Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres both departed as notable losses to the squad. Ter Stegen’s own exit, on loan to Ajax, followed the same pattern: Joan Garcia has since been established as the starter in the Barcelona goal, and the German’s words reflected that reality without bitterness, framing himself as an interested observer rather than a man waiting for a way back.
The past few years had not been easy for Ter Stegen, though the specifics of that difficult stretch were not detailed alongside his comments. What is clear is that his Germany recall came after a lengthy absence from the national side, and that the move to Ajax was framed as a chance to keep playing at the highest level rather than fade out of contention. The financial and contractual issues surrounding his departure had shaped much of the discussion around his Barcelona exit in the first place.
For now, Ter Stegen’s focus sits squarely with Ajax and with reclaiming a regular role for Germany, even as he keeps half an eye on Catalonia. Barcelona, for their part, appear settled on Joan Garcia as their long-term option between the posts, leaving Ter Stegen to make the most of his loan spell and prove he still belongs at the top level.
