Marc-André ter Stegen will not feature in the Spanish Supercopa after suffering a physical issue during FC Barcelona’s training session in Jeddah on [Tuesday](https://www.sport.es/es/noticias/barca/ter-stegen-abandona-concentracion-barca-125430196). The goalkeeper left the session around 25 minutes early and has returned to Barcelona for further assessment. In response, the club has called up Diego Kochen, who is expected to travel to Saudi Arabia immediately and be available for the remainder of the tournament.
Barcelona are in Saudi Arabia for the Supercopa de España, where they face Athletic Club in tomorrow’s semifinal. Ahead of the match, Hansi Flick spoke to the media and addressed a wide range of topics, though his comments on two issues stood out. Asked about the goalkeeping situation, the coach confirmed that Joan García is his first-choice option. When questioned about the January transfer window and whether any players had asked to leave, Flick was equally clear, responding “no.”
Those remarks demonstrate the difficult position Ter Stegen currently occupies. After recovering from a serious knee injury sustained last season, the 33-year-old returned to fitness only to find that the club’s plans had shifted. Joan García has been identified as the preferred starter for this campaign, and with Wojciech Szczęsny renewed and trusted by Flick, Ter Stegen’s opportunities have been limited. He has played just once this season, a scenario that complicates his hopes of securing a regular role with Germany ahead of the next FIFA World Cup. In the past, Ter Stegen has had to be satisfied with being a backup goalkeeper as Manuel Neuer was the undisputed starter when healthy, and now, even though Neuer has has stepped away from the national team, Ter Stegen is not the guaranteed #1.
In the background, the strained relationship between player and club has been building for months. Last summer, tensions peaked when Ter Stegen was stripped of the captaincy following disagreements over medical documentation related to his injury. Although the situation was later resolved, with the armband returned and Barcelona able to register new signings, the reality that he was no longer the club’s starter did not change once the season began.
Barcelona’s stance is also influenced by financial considerations. According to Superdeporte, the club would be willing to explore an exit in order to reduce their wage bill if they need to do so. Ter Stegen, however, remains under contract until 2028 and is not inclined to leave unless an offer arrives from a major European club.
There has been interest. According to SPORT, Aston Villa previously monitored his situation as a potential replacement should Emiliano Martínez depart, though the Argentina international ultimately stayed. More recently, Girona have emerged as a possible destination, with the Catalan side considering a loan deal that would involve a substantial reduction in Ter Stegen’s salary.
The extent of the latest injury is yet to be revealed, but it could put another spanner in the works for a potential transfer of any kind.
See More:
* [Barcelona: Spanish Super Cup](/barcelona-spanish-super-cup)