La Liga icon slams Ter Stegen’s behaviour at Barcelona – ‘Left a lot to be desired’ | OneFootball

The ongoing drama surrounding Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s role as FC Barcelona captain has taken another turn, with legendary Spanish goalkeeper Santiago Canizares adding his voice to the debate.

The German shot-stopper remains at the centre of media speculation and heated discussions following his refusal to share medical information with La Liga, casting further doubt over his future leadership at the club.

Speaking on El Partidazo de COPE, Canizares did not mince his words when sharing his opinion on Ter Stegen’s conduct.

The former Valencia keeper, who also captained Valencia during his playing days, directly criticised the German international’s behaviour, especially when he has not featured in the starting XI.

“When he hasn’t played, his behaviour has left a lot to be desired. It’s something common in the Germans, they have that behaviour of always wanting to be starters.

“In addition, we goalkeepers are selfish because in many cases, if we are not starters, we no longer play throughout the season,” he explained bluntly.

Warning the Barcelona captain

Ter Stegen is in battle with Barcelona. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

Canizares took issue not just with Ter Stegen’s individual actions but also with the broader impact they have on the dressing room. For him, a captain must lead by example, especially during times of internal conflict.

“A captain can’t be a lazy guy and create a bad atmosphere. A captain has to encourage the commitment of the whole team and generate good vibes to help a good performance.

“It must try to resolve all conflicts. If in this case, the conflict is generated by himself, it makes no sense for it to be the captain,” he added.

“The captain should be the one to resolve the conflict with Ter Stegen, just the opposite of the current situation.”

Lastly, as for Barcelona’s next steps, Canizares kept it simple, stating, “Let them choose the captain they want.”