One Barcelona player is ready to go to war with the club and has accused the board of leaking information to force him out, according to an explosive report.
Veteran goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, also the Blaugrana’s captain, is said to be deeply upset over how the LaLiga giants are handling his future.
Espanyol stopper Joan Garcia is rapidly closing in on moving to the Nou Camp and he is likely to replace Ter Stegen, who missed much of last season through injury and lost his spot in the starting XI to Wojciech Szczesny, as Hansi Flick’s No 1.
It has been claimed that Barcelona president Joan Laporta has even told members of the board that Ter Stegen, 33, must be sold once Garcia arrives.
However, Spanish outlet Sport have now reported that Ter Stegen is refusing to be pushed out. He is said to be shocked by the situation and ‘deeply hurt’, believing the development is a ‘direct attack’ on his ‘professional character’.
Sporting director Deco will explain Barcelona’s stance to Ter Stegen and his camp in the near future and the club want an amicable outcome for all parties.
One Barcelona player is ready to go to war with the club, believing he is being forced out
Marc-Andre ter Stegen has accused figures of leaking information against him
According to reports, Ter Stegen partly blames Hansi Flick for trying to broker his departure
But Ter Stegen has accused figures of purposefully leaking information to damage his reputation in a desperate attempt to pressure him to leave of his own volition.
After recovering from the season-ending injury suffered last September, Ter Stegen has returned to full fitness and wants to fight for his spot in the side.
He is tied down to a contract running until 2028, which was signed under Laporta.
Barcelona plan to make it clear to the goalkeeper that Garcia will be Flick’s first-choice option with Szczesny, once he pens a new deal, his back-up. Sport claim that Ter Stegen could stay at the club, but only if he accepts his new bit-part role.
Should Ter Stegen decide to move on, Barcelona would reportedly be willing to release him and pay him a year of his contract as compensation.
Ter Stegen is reportedly ‘outraged’ and is convinced his situation is personal rather than a sporting issue. He is also said to privately blame both Deco and Flick.
‘No one has told me about this, so I don’t know the situation,’ Ter Stegen said.
He then added: ‘I’m not worried. I know that I will be at Barcelona next year.’
Barcelona are closing in on Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia as Ter Stegen’s successor
Ter Stegen returned from his season-ending injury and is unaware of speculation over an exit
The veteran is currently on international duty with Germany but will return for crunch talks
‘If I remember correctly, and if no news has happened in the last few hours, we only have two goalkeepers for next season, Inaki [Pena] and me.’
Ter Stegen joined Barcelona from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2014 and has won 19 trophies in Spain, including the Champions League and six LaLiga titles.
