Hansi Flick set for crisis talks with Barcelona star after £21m transfer

The future of Barcelona star Marc-Andre ter Stegen has been plunged into uncertainty after they completed the signing of fellow goalkeeper Joan Garcia for £21million

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick is set to hold crisis talks with captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen amid suggestions that he’s being forced out. Barca have just paid £21million to sign Joan Garcia from local rivals Espanyol, with the highly-rated Spaniard expected to be installed as Flick’s new No.1 goalkeeper.

Barcelona have also offered Wojciech Szczesny a two-year contract extension which the ex-Arsenal shot-stopper has reportedly accepted. That leaves Ter Stegen, 33, third in the goalkeeping pecking order and up for sale, having been sidelined for most of last season with a serious knee injury.

Turkish giants Galatasaray have been linked with a move but Ter Stegen isn’t planning to leave. That could all change after talks with his manager, though.

Catalan outlet Sport report that Barcelona chiefs are counting on Flick to hold a frank conversation with Ter Stegen about his third-choice role if he stays. The former Borussia Monchengladbach star, who joined the La Liga champions in 2014, isn’t happy about how the club handled the signing of Garcia, as they didn’t consult him before announcing the transfer earlier this week.

Speaking at the beginning of this month, Ter Stegen was somewhat bullish about his future. At the time, Garcia was still an Espanyol player and Szczesny was making up his mind on whether to go back into retirement.

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“I’m not worried. I know that I will be at Barcelona next year,” Ter Stegen told reporters. “I haven’t spoken to Hansi and there hasn’t been any contact in the last few days because I don’t see any reason for that at the moment.

“No event has occurred that justifies the conversation. Honestly, the focus is here now [international duty with Germany]. It’s a situation that has arisen now.

“But I have to say that this is common. Barcelona is probably one of the biggest clubs in the world and there is always competition, no matter the circumstances. That’s why it’s natural that Barcelona always seek to develop and improve, and that’s clear to me. I will always try to do my best.”

Are Barcelona treating Marc-Andre ter Stegen harshly? Have your say in the comments section.

Ter Stegen has enjoyed 11 trophy-laden years at Barca, famously helping them win the treble in his first season. The Germany international has six La Liga titles to his name, although it was academy graduate Inaki Pena and emergency signing Szczesny who mostly wore the gloves during this year’s triumph, with Ter Stegen having ruptured his patella tendon in September.

Garcia’s arrival changes the dynamic of Barcelona’s goalkeeping department and the 24-year-old wants to make the No.1 shirt his own. “I’m very happy, culers,” he told fans after signing a six-year contract. “I’m really looking forward to sharing great moments with you.”

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