- Ter Stegen trained only in the gym due to reported back pain for a third consecutive day
- Coach Hansi Flick has informed the goalkeeper he will no longer be first-choice
- Rumours suggest a rift began last season when Ter Stegen stayed benched after recovering from injury
Key Takeaways:
Captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen is once again absent from Barcelona’s full training sessions. On the third day of the team’s preseason preparations, the German goalkeeper continues to work only in the gym, with the official explanation citing back pain.
❗️ Ter Stegen remains apart from the group, working in the gym due to some back discomfort, as was the case on Monday and Tuesday.
Joan Garcia, Szczesny, and Peña were training on the pitch.
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The 32-year-old arrived at Barca’s training base at 8:15 AM. Before entering the complex, he stopped his car a few metres before the gate to sign autographs for young fans for several minutes.
So far, Hansi Flick’s squad has held four training sessions (two on Wednesday), and Ter Stegen has not set foot on the training pitch for any of them.
The head coach has informed Ter Stegen that he will no longer be the starting goalkeeper, and Barcelona’s hope is that he will agree to a sale. However, the German international appears reluctant to leave. He is under contract until 2028 and is among the highest earners at the club.
There is no official explanation for the apparent breakdown in their relationship, but speculation suggests that tensions began toward the end of last season. Despite having recovered from his surgery, Ter Stegen remained on the bench while Wojciech Szczesny was preferred in goal, prompting visible frustration from the long-time Barcelona shot-stopper.