Marc-André ter Stegen has intentionally chosen the troublesome path. Out of the highlight of the once-again playable Camp Nou, straight into the brutal relegation battle. After greater than a decade at FC Barcelona, the 33-year-old will now guard the purpose for FC Girona.
His new employer might hardly be additional faraway from Barça when it comes to sporting degree, environment, and infrastructure. However for ter Stegen, solely the 2026 World Cup issues proper now. That’s the place he desires to begin for the primary time in his profession as Germany’s primary!
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A Transfer for the Neuer Legacy
The scenario is evident. After Manuel Neuer’s retirement in the summertime of 2024, the trail appeared open. Julian Nagelsmann made it clear early on that he was relying on ter Stegen. Ter Stegen lastly needed to step out of his predecessor’s everlasting shadow.
However only a 12 months later, in the summertime of 2025, all the pieces was thrown into turmoil. In Barcelona, ter Stegen misplaced his beginning spot, displaced by new signing Joan Garcia. Then a persistent again damage sidelined him for 4 and a half months. His solely aggressive look this season was a Copa del Rey match in mid-December 2025. Far too little to look in direction of the World Cup with a transparent conscience.
A winter switch was subsequently inevitable. With out match apply, even Nagelsmann’s ensures are nugatory. Particularly since Oliver Baumann made a robust case for himself throughout ter Stegen’s absence from the nationwide group. That’s why he went to Girona. The town of 100,000 inhabitants would possibly elevate eyebrows amongst many German followers at first, however for ter Stegen, it matches surprisingly properly.
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It’s solely an hour and a half by automobile from Barcelona, so no transfer is important and he stays near his household. Most significantly, the previous Gladbach participant lastly has the prospect of standard taking part in time.
Immediately, It’s All About Relegation!
Sportingly, nevertheless, Girona is presently something however a consolation zone. Regardless of a transparent upward development in latest weeks, the membership stays caught on the backside of the desk, combating relegation and fielding the league’s weakest protection. A hefty 34 targets conceded and the second-most photographs confronted are stats that command respect from any goalkeeper. Self-discipline can be a relentless downside. The Catalans have obtained six pink playing cards—solely promoted Actual Oviedo has extra.
So it’s sure that ter Stegen may have a lot to do right here. However that’s precisely the purpose. After months of inactivity, he wants match apply, loads of balls to save lots of, and the occasional high-pressure scenario. And sure, even conceding targets. He must be seen, take duty, and determine video games. In Girona, nothing can be handed to him, however that might assist him within the World Cup race.
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The goalkeeper scenario on the “Blanquivermells” just lately epitomized the chaos of the season. First-choice keeper Paulo Gazzaniga fluctuated between robust moments and main blunders. Loaned backup Dominik Livakovic most well-liked to not play in any respect, because it rapidly turned clear he’d be leaving once more within the winter. Because of this, Gazzaniga even needed to play within the Spanish Cup in early December regardless of having a fever.
Accordingly, Girona coach Michel Sanchez was delighted on the arrival of his new celebrity. “I’m very completely satisfied,” he mentioned with reduction. “You’re a chief and can give us lots.”
📸 Alex Caparros – 2026 Getty Photographs
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From Camp Nou to the Smallest Stadium within the League
Regardless of all these issues, Girona isn’t a traditional provincial membership. Behind the scenes, the Metropolis Soccer Group pulls the strings, and the chairman is Pere Guardiola, Pep’s brother. Their ambitions are fairly excessive—the Champions League qualification in 2023/24 as third within the league was no accident.
However that shine has light for now. What stays is a membership from the Catalan provinces with the smallest stadium within the league. The Estadi Montilivi holds simply 14,624 seats and isn’t bought out. A meager 11,671 followers attend every residence sport on common. Furthermore, renovation plans for much-needed modernization have been on maintain for a while.
For somebody who performed in entrance of 90,000 spectators for years, that’s a tradition shock. However ter Stegen should get used to all the pieces in Girona being seven or eight sizes smaller. That goes for the locker room, the stadium, and public consideration.
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However possibly that’s the worth for his huge dream. He needed to go to the 2026 World Cup as primary and has traded glamour and a possible league title for a rundown stadium and a relegation battle. Whether or not this trade-off will repay stays to be seen. He’ll get taking part in time. He’ll have probabilities to shine, too. And if he manages to stabilize Girona’s leaky protection, that might find yourself being value greater than any minute spent warming the bench at FC Barcelona.
This text was translated into English by Synthetic Intelligence.
📸 Alex Caparros – 2025 Getty Photographs