Lothar Matthaus snubs Ter Stegen in Germany World Cup goalkeeper choice | OneFootball

FC Barcelona club captain Marc-Andre Ter Stegen is no longer the first choice at the Catalan club and has seen his place taken by summer signing Joan Garcia. The Spaniard has hardly put a foot wrong so far in his time at the Catalan club, leaving the German goalkeeper in a challenging position as he seeks regular playing time.

To address this, Ter Stegen has reached an agreement with fellow Catalan side Girona to join them on loan until the end of the season. The move aims to help the 33-year-old regain match rhythm and form, something both Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann and sporting director Rudi Völler have emphasized as crucial for his national team prospects.

For years, Ter Stegen spent his prime as the deputy to Manuel Neuer in the German national team. When Neuer retired from international football, the opportunity arose for Ter Stegen to finally establish himself as Germany’s number one goalkeeper. However, two injury-hit seasons at Barcelona prevented him from securing consistent minutes under Nagelsmann.

The loan spell at Girona is seen as a chance to rebuild his fitness and confidence. Nagelsmann remains hopeful that if Ter Stegen finds form in Spain, he could still be Germany’s top option for the upcoming World Cup.

Despite this, as reported by SPORT, German legend Lothar Matthaus has expressed a clear preference against Ter Stegen for the World Cup. The 1990 Ballon d’Or winner suggested that Hoffenheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann, who has been performing reliably in the Bundesliga, should be Germany’s choice instead:

This assessment underlines the challenge Ter Stegen faces. His performances at Girona will now be closely watched, as only consistent form and regular minutes can give him a chance to stake a claim for the national team spot.

The coming months will therefore be crucial for the German goalkeeper, whose future at both club and international level is at a pivotal juncture.