Girona insists on making Marc-André ter Stegen their star signing of the winter transfer window. At Montilivi, they are well aware of the situation of the FC Barcelona captain, as well as the German national team's stance on the 33-year-old goalkeeper's current circumstances. 'Matts' will only be a starter in the World Cup if he moves to a team where he can be a regular starter.
A factor that forces the Mönchengladbach player to resolve his departure from Barça. Hansi Flick has been very clear with the '1' regarding his substitute status for the rest of the season. Joan García will be the starter and Wojciech Szczesny his second as long as the Polish player is physically fit.
In this regard, the pressure is on for the goalkeeper in Germany ahead of the transfer window that opens next Friday. Whether with Girona or any other club, he must play regularly in the second half of the season. Julian Nagelsmann has made this clear to him.
Julian Nagelsmann counts on Ter Stegen, but won't risk a goalkeeper without match practice
The German coach's stance has not changed in recent months: Ter Stegen will be the starter in the World Cup, as long as he arrives in peak condition for the summer. And this not only concerns his physical condition, but also the consistency with which he plays in the coming semester.
If 'Matts' decides to stay at Barça and spends the entire second half of 25/26 on the bench, Nagelsmann could bet on Alexander Nübel (Stuttgart) as the starter in the World Cup. The 29-year-old goalkeeper has 6 clean sheets and has conceded 22 goals in 15 Bundesliga matchdays with his club.The other alternative, perhaps the most reliable for the German coach, is the experienced **Oliver Baumann** (Hoffenheim), who was the starter for the past year, including the six matches of the European qualifiers. Ter Stegen could only play some Copa del Rey matches if he decides to stay at Barça, unless **Joan García** suffers some physical mishap.
In fact, this would not guarantee him the starting position either, as Hansi Flick also has full confidence in **Szczesny**. The Pole was a substitute in the Copa debut against Guadalajara because he was recovering from a viral illness and 'Matts' needed to play after missing the first four months of the season.
From the round of 16 onwards, 'Tek' should return to goal in the tournament where he was champion and a key player in 24/25. Ter Stegen's discontent with the Barça coaching staff, in fact, intensified after the Pole's start in the Copa final against Real Madrid. Then there was maximum tension at the start of preseason, but things calmed down with the captain's injury absence.
Girona could secure Ter Stegen's first World Cup as a starter
In Girona, on the other hand, Marc-André will have many more chances to secure the starting position. For the club, it represents a significant financial effort to cover a good portion of his salary (14 million euros gross), beyond it being a simple loan, without a mandatory purchase option.
Míchel has kept the experienced **Paulo Gazzaniga** in goal, but the Argentine has conceded 27 goals in 16 matchdays and made multiple errors in recent months that have cast doubt on his starting position. The signing of **Dominik Livakovic** was meant to bring a 'top' reinforcement to the goalkeeping position, but the Croatian never wanted to go to Montilivi and his relationship with Míchel quickly soured.
In that sense, Ter Stegen's arrival would be, in theory, **a win-win for both parties**. The 'albirrojos' would get a luxury reinforcement to try to save their category, while the '1' from Barça would have the necessary playing time to finally arrive at a World Cup as a star for his national team.
Mönchengladbach's player was a substitute for **Manuel Neuer** in Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022, although the Bayern Munich goalkeeper had been on a downward curve in his performance, especially in the last World Cup. After two consecutive group stage eliminations, Germany cannot afford another fiasco in the tournament, and 'Matts' hopes to be a key player in what could be his last World Cup.
After the tournament, the 33-year-old goalkeeper will once again have to meet with Barcelona's board to resolve his future. The player still has two more years left on his contract and little expectation of being in the club's plans for next season.