Journalist insists Barcelona captain will not leave this summer – ‘I have zero doubts’ | OneFootball

One of the major talking points heading into the pre-season for FC Barcelona is the future of captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

By signing Joan Garcia, the Blaugrana have firmly indicated that the 33-year-old club captain is no longer their first-choice shot-stopper.

With Wojciech Szczesny also penning a renewal, he is tipped to be the backup option, leaving the German ace in limbo.

A meeting was scheduled to take place between Ter Stegen and Hansi Flick today to discuss the matter, with the goalkeeper insistent on not leaving and the manager hoping to convince him to reconsider his stance.

Ter Stegen will not leave

However, Juan Ignacio Garcia-Ochoa, deputy director of MARCA, has made it clear -Ter Stegen will remain at Barcelona this summer.

Speaking on Radio MARCA, the journalist dismissed speculation surrounding the German goalkeeper’s future, stating firmly that the 33-year-old is fully committed to continuing at the club.

“He’s not moving, take my word for it. Ter Stegen is not going to move from Barcelona, and he is convinced that he is going to be the starter. I think so too,” said Ochoa

Garcia-Ochoa emphasised that this conviction stems from Ter Stegen’s inner circle, which he described as serious and resolute.

“That’s the information I have. And if you talk to Ter Stegen’s entourage, who are serious and very firm people, they are not going to move from Barcelona,” he stressed.

Not planning to leave. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

He also pointed out that the keeper feels comfortable at the club and still has three years left on his deal, and that the only way he could leave is if his contract is paid out.

“The only way that Ter Stegen can leave is for Barcelona to pay off his contract, something that is not going to happen because they are not financially prepared,” he remarked.

The journalist made it clear that Ter Stegen is unfazed by the arrival of Joan Garcia, saying:

“He says he is not affected by Joan García’s signing, that it is not his problem and that if Barcelona want to sign goalkeepers, they can sign them.

“But he is part of the squad, and he is the captain of Barcelona, and he is not going to move. And if Ter Stegen says he won’t move, then he won’t move.”

“It’s true that this is football and that things can change. But if he says he’s not going, he’s not going. You can have doubts about others, but in this case, I have zero doubts: if he says he’s not leaving, he’s not leaving and we’re going,” concluded Ochoa.