Barcelona squad rallies around Ter Stegen – will vote for him as captain amid war with club | OneFootball

The voting process to select Barcelona’s new captain was set for this week. Hansi Flick had stated that the decision would be made before the start of the league campaign, ideally before the Gamper Trophy match, an event when the chosen captain addresses the fans.

However, a conflict has emerged. While the club is looking to move away from naming Marc-Andre ter Stegen as captain, due to the ongoing dispute related to his medical absence, the dressing room has firmly closed ranks around him.

Players supporting Ter Stegen captaincy

Indeed, according to SPORT, the Barcelona players are not willing to betray their teammate and believe the issue is between the goalkeeper and the club, not the squad. From their perspective, Ter Stegen should remain captain.

In recent days, several players have publicly reaffirmed their support, stating that Ter Stegen is their captain and there is no reason for that to change.

As per the report, some players have even contacted him directly during the club’s Asian tour to assure him they will not change their position, unless the club cancels the vote, which has never happened before.

The players fear that siding with management could set a dangerous precedent that might affect them in the future.

Conflict over voting process

Traditionally, captaincy at Barcelona is decided based on seniority. This approach has long been respected in the dressing room.

However, the club reportedly wanted to intervene and have Hansi Flick propose other candidates – influential figures in the squad who may not have the seniority usually required.

Barcelona players will stand by Ter Stegen. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

The players have rejected this idea outright. While the club does have the authority to change the rules, they have not done so yet.

Should disciplinary action be formally opened against Ter Stegen, the club may attempt to remove him from the vote entirely, though he has not yet been notified of any such process.

Barcelona believed the squad would align with the club, especially given reports of strained relationships between Ter Stegen and certain teammates last season. But individual tensions have not swayed the broader consensus.

The vast majority of the dressing room is strongly opposed to any external interference in their internal dynamics. Flick has tried to shield the squad from controversy since his arrival, and the captaincy issue now poses a significant challenge to the stability he is trying to build.

For his part, Ter Stegen is continuing his recovery under the supervision of the club’s medical staff, even though he is not yet able to train fully on the pitch.

The German goalkeeper is confident he will be ready to return in under three months and aims to be available during the first half of the season.

The outcome of the captaincy vote, and how the Barcelona hierarchy responds to it, could have major implications for the unity of the squad and the direction of Flick’s new project.