Barcelona continue to progress in talks with La Liga rivals over captain’s loan exit | OneFootball

The scare suffered by Barcelona captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen in his knee in Saudi Arabia during Tuesday’s training session, ahead of the match against Athletic Club, fortunately did not turn out to be a serious injury.

This was confirmed yesterday by Deco before the match against the Basque side, in which the Catalans convincingly secured their place in the final of the Spanish Super Cup.

This will come as a relief for Barça, who have been hoping to sanction the German goalkeeper’s loan departure, as well as Girona, who have been pursuing the 33-year-old’s services.

Talks continue between Barcelona and Girona

Now, according to Mundo Deportivo, talks continue to progress between Barcelona and Girona over a possible loan move for Ter Stegen, with his injury scare no longer a concern.

Girona’s interest in Ter Stegen is very strong, and this has been clearly communicated to Barcelona, who have received the request positively, as they consider the goalkeeping position well covered with Joan Garcia and Wojciech Szczesny.

Within the Barcelona hierarchy, there is an understanding that Girona cannot pay more than a small part of Ter Stegen’s salary for the second part of the season. But the club would facilitate the move if that is the German goalkeeper’s wish.

Decision up to Ter Stegen

Michel wants Ter Stegen at Girona. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

This is precisely the key point in the matter: whether Ter Stegen accepts Girona’s proposal, which offers clear benefits but also carries certain risks.

On the positive side, there is the full confidence of Girona manager Michel, who would make him the undisputed first-choice goalkeeper from the moment he arrives.

This would be highly beneficial with the German national team in mind, allowing him to regain match rhythm and remove any doubts about his status as the number one goalkeeper ahead of next summer’s World Cup.

On a personal level, Girona’s proximity to Barcelona would also allow him to better balance his professional and personal life, with the ability to see his children frequently being extremely important to Ter Stegen.

With his injury scare turning out to be nothing serious, things are starting to fall into place, as far as talks between the two clubs are concerned. The final decision now rests with Ter Stegen.