Barcelona captain sets major condition for departure; rejects approaches from Chelsea | OneFootball

Marc-Andre ter Stegen has taken a firm stance with FC Barcelona: either the club agrees to terminate his contract and pay him in full, or he will stay, reports SPORT.

Following the signing of Joan Garcia, Barça had hoped to find a solution for Ter Stegen and finalise Wojciech Szczesny’s renewal. However, the situation is proving more complicated than expected.

The German goalkeeper has informed the club that he has no intention of leaving. He has a valid contract until 2028 and expects Barcelona to honour it. If the club no longer counts on him, his message is clear – terminate the agreement and pay every euro owed.

Ter Stegen frustrated

Ter Stegen is understood to be furious, particularly with the club’s sporting leadership. He feels betrayed, especially by what he believes were internal leaks designed to damage his reputation and professionalism.

The 33-year-old claims he was never informed of the club’s goalkeeper plans, which included pursuing other signings.

Ter Stegen sets a condition for his departure. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

He might have agreed to an amicable exit had the club approached him transparently at the end of last season. But now, Ter Stegen believes that door has closed. He is determined to stay and compete for the starting role and eventually reclaim the No.1 spot from Garcia.

Rejecting approaches

Ter Stegen has flatly refused talks with Monaco and Galatasaray, and has even turned down approaches from higher-profile clubs such as Chelsea – underscoring how firm he is in his position.

Unless there is a major turn of events, Ter Stegen will return to Barcelona to begin pre-season. So far, he has refused to speak with anyone at the club, but by mid-July he will be required to sit down with manager Hansi Flick, who will clearly outline the situation.

It is shaping up to be a complex standoff. Barcelona hope the player chooses playing time over sitting on a contract, but for now, that is not the case. The situation is expected to reach a critical point by the end of August.

Barcelona are willing to negotiate a contract termination, but not under the condition of paying the entire deal. A loan deal could be considered, but at present, no talks are underway.