Hansi Flick has made Barcelona’s stance on Marc-André ter Stegen very clear, and it raises fresh questions about the goalkeeper’s long-term future.
Speaking before the Atletico Madrid match, as reported by Fabrizio Romano via his official X account. The coach said Ter Stegen is still not fit enough to return and insisted it is not the time to talk about his future.
He said:
Flick on Ter Stegen exit in January:Now is not a good time to talk about it. He’s not ready to play yet. We’re moving on to the next step, and we’re happy with that.
Flick insists that the team is moving on to the next step, and he is happy with that, which suggests they will not rush Ter Stegen back into action as he continues his recovery phase.
Stegen only recently rejoined group training after months sidelined with a back injury, and the club believes he still needs time before he can compete again. Flick also reinforced Barcelona’s trust in their current goalkeeping structure. Joan García is viewed as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper and also Stegen’s long-term successor.
Softfootball understands that Barcelona returned back to winning ways following their disappointing 3-0 defeat to Chelsea in the Champions League. They defeated Alaves 3-1 in the league this weekend, and the team’s defence looked organised again even without their captain.
Even though Ter Stegen is sidelined because of injury, the timing is complicated. With the 2026 World Cup approaching, missing games could still affect his rhythm and readiness for selection.
His contract runs until 2028, but some within the club acknowledge that a loan or even a permanent move might become an option if he needs regular matches once fully recovered.
For now Ter Stegen’s focus remains on regaining full fitness, but the conversation around his future is becoming harder for Barcelona to avoid.
