Emotional scenes as Ter Stegen says goodbye to Barcelona dressing room | OneFootball

FC Barcelona club captain Marc-Andre Ter Stegen has joined Girona on a six-month loan deal. The German goalkeeper was not getting any minutes in Hansi Flick’s team due to the arrival of Joan Garcia.

The summer signing from Espanyol has come in and revolutionised the goalkeeping position. Meanwhile, the club was forced to move in a different direction after a couple of seasons of indifferent form from Ter Stegen.

With the World Cup approaching later this year, the 33-year-old understood that regular minutes were essential if he was to remain in Julian Nagelsmann’s plans for Germany, making a short-term move within Catalonia the most practical solution.

Before finalising the loan move, Ter Stegen went to the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper to say goodbye to his teammates and the coaching staff, choosing not to travel with the squad to Prague for their UEFA Champions League clash against Slavia Prague.

According to a report from Mundo Deportivo, the farewell was deeply emotional, with the veteran goalkeeper moved to tears after spending 12 seasons defending Barcelona’s colours.

The report describes a rare moment of vulnerability from a player known for his strong character and firmness in defending his position. Ter Stegen was said to be emotional to the point of crying as he addressed the dressing room, aware that stepping away from a club he has called home for more than a decade was no small sentimental matter.

Although the last few months have seen a difficult relationship between Ter Stegen and the club, there is no doubt that he has had some exceptional moments in the Barcelona jersey and that this exit was bound to be difficult.

It remains to be seen how Ter Stegen performs for Girona and whether he finds a place in Julian Nagelsmann’s plans for the upcoming World Cup.