Ter Stegen: Why is he still not training with FC Barcelona?

FC Barcelona held the first training session of the double session scheduled for this Tuesday at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. For the second consecutive day, Marc-André ter Stegen did not take to the field, after exclusively performing exercises in the gym on Monday.

Beyond the rumors about his departure in the summer market and the secondary role he would occupy in 25/26 if he decides to stay, the reason for his absence in the practices has to do with some lumbar discomfort. The '1' suffered a back injury during 23/24 as a result of a herniated disc that forced him to undergo surgery.

This kept him out for almost three months, between November 2023 and February 2024. The previous year, his absence was much longer (almost seven months) due to the complete rupture of the patellar tendon in his right knee. This summer, again, the German's physique may undermine his performance.

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For now, the club has not issued any medical report confirming an injury, but the Blaugrana captain prefers not to take to the field to avoid a major complication. In any case, it may also affect him emotionally knowing that he has been relegated in Hansi Flick's plans.

The coach has already made it clear that Joan Garçia, Barça's first reinforcement for 25/26, will start as the starter. For his part, Wojciech Szczesny will be his substitute, after the Pole renewed his contract for two more years, until June 2027.

This puts Ter Stegen and Iñaki Peña himself on the departure ramp, although the Alicante native, for now, is working with the rest of the squad while waiting to resolve his departure, either through a transfer or the termination of the contract that links him to the club until 2026.

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The situation of the '13', however, is much less complex due to the salary issue. Marc-André has three years left on his contract and the bulk of his emoluments to be collected, which amount to about 42 million gross, according to what was agreed in his last renewal in 2023.

Barça awaits offers for Ter Stegen: the captain must leave

In that sense, the Culé board keeps open the option of a loan or transfer with the 33-year-old goalkeeper. Galatasaray and Mónaco, for the moment, are the teams most interested in signing him, with the Turks being the most insistent on closing his incorporation as soon as possible.

The '1', beyond not wanting to leave, may end up giving the green light to the operation in the face of the possibility of spending a full season on the bench or even in the stands if he breaks relations with the club. In a season prior to the World Cup, the Mönchengladbach native cannot afford this if he aspires to maintain his place as a starter with Germany.

In this regard, former player and German legend Lothar Matthäus recently stated that the most likely thing is that the goalkeeper