Barcelona out-of-favour star ‘increasingly convinced’ of joining Girona, talks accelerating | OneFootball

Thursday’s Copa del Rey clash against Racing Santander made it clear to Barcelona captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen that he would not be playing at all if he continued at the club for the second half of the season.

The 33-year-old goalkeeper got to start in the previous Copa del Rey game versus Guadalajara, soon after he returned from a four-month spell on the sidelines, but it turned out to be a solitary occurrence.

Hansi Flick sent a clear message to Ter Stegen last night by starting Joan Garcia in the cup tie, indicating that there will be no starting opportunities for him at Barça at the moment, even if he stays this month.

Ter Stegen willing to join Girona

As such, journalist Alfredo Martinez reports that Ter Stegen is now ‘increasingly convinced’ of joining Girona on loan for the rest of the season.

The Catalan side have made it clear that they would be willing to sign the Barcelona goalkeeper until the end of the season, with manager Michel an admirer.

Ready to join Girona. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Should he make the switch, Ter Stegen would be a regular starter at Estadi Montilivi, ensuring that he gets to play enough minutes to secure his spot in the German national team for the World Cup.

Moreover, a move to Girona also appeals to the 33-year-old as he would still be able to stay close to his children – something that is a non-negotiable for him.

The report states that negotiations are advancing between the two clubs, and things could pick up pace in the coming days.

One issue is that Girona can only cover a small portion of Ter Stegen’s wages, and with the player unwilling to take a pay cut, Barcelona will have to continue paying a large chunk of his salary.

Whether such an arrangement is acceptable for the Blaugrana remains to be seen, but Ter Stegen now appears willing to make the loan switch to Girona.