Should Barcelona reconsider selling Marc-Andre ter Stegen? | OneFootball

As we near the halfway point of the season, Barcelona are increasingly facing a dilemma, one that pits financial necessity against sporting risk.

The club’s new hierarchy under Hansi Flick was established this summer: Joan Garcia, the €25 million signing from Espanyol, is the undisputed number one goalkeeper.

This decision effectively demoted club captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen, with the German being relegated to becoming the club’s third-choice keeper.

While Garcia has been impressive, a torn medial meniscus in September forced him to undergo surgery, sidelining him until after the international break. This has thrust the veteran backup, Wojciech Szczesny, into the spotlight.

And his performance is exactly why the club must now seriously reconsider its plan to sell Ter Stegen.

Szczesny’s questionable form this season

Since taking over for the injured Garcia, Szczesny’s numbers have raised significant alarms. The 35-year-old has started eight matches (five in LaLiga, three in the Champions League). In that span, he has conceded 15 goals and has failed to keep a single clean sheet.

The underlying stats are just as worrying. In those seven games, Szczesny has faced 33 shots on target, meaning he is conceding a goal for every 2.75 shots he faces.

This shaky form, highlighted by the 4-1 loss to Sevilla, has exposed a vulnerability that a team with title aspirations cannot afford.

Szczesny’s performances have been a worry for Barcelona. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

This brings the focus back to ter Stegen. The 33-year-old German international is in the final stages of his recovery from back surgery and is expected to be available again before the end of the year.

However, his return is complicated. It is no secret that Barcelona are actively trying to offload his substantial salary in the January window, with Premier League clubs like Chelsea reportedly exploring a loan deal.

Ter Stegen himself is motivated to find playing time to secure his starting role for Germany in the 2026 World Cup.

This creates the central dilemma for Hansi Flick and the board. The plan to part with a world-class, albeit high-earning, asset only works if his replacements are reliable.

There is no doubt that Joan Garcia is the starter when he returns. But the season is long, and as his current injury proves, things can change instantly.

The coaching staff must now, therefore, analyse and decide: Is the financial relief from selling Ter Stegen worth the immense risk of heading into the crucial second half of the season with Szczesny as the only safety net?

Are Barcelona appearing too reliant on Joan Garcia? (Photo by Judit Cartiel/Getty Images)

Whatever the decision may have serious ramifications for Barcelona, who must surely think about the future rather than simply relying on Joan Garcia to stay fit all throughout the campaign.

Another potential solution could be the return of Inaki Pena or the ascension of one of the La Masia goalkeepers, with Diego Kochen making the most sense at the moment.

The German youngster is liked by coach Flick and has already trained with the first team on multiple occasions. But he remains unproven at the highest stage, so it will be interesting to see what’s in store for ter Stegen’s future going into the second half of the season.