On Thursday, Marc-André ter Stegen was officially presented at his new club, FC Girona. Leaving Barcelona was very difficult for the 33-year-old. His goal for the next six months is clear.
“When we started the talks, we didn’t know if it could be a realistic option. In the end, everyone is happy, and I’m happy because this style of play suits me. I want to bring my qualities to the club and am grateful to everyone who worked to make this transfer possible,” said ter Stegen at his presentation on Thursday.
The German keeper had recently been sidelined at Barcelona, with coach Hansi Flick clearly establishing Joan Garcia as his number one – and the keeper repaid that trust with some outstanding performances. “After my injury, I wanted to get back on the pitch as soon as possible. I trained hard for that, but you have to respect the coach’s decision, and that’s what I did.
They chose Joan, who is doing a great job, and I respect that,” said ter Stegen. For many years, ter Stegen was an integral part of the Catalans’ starting lineup. The keeper moved to Barcelona in 2014 and was most recently even captain of the Blaugrana, with whom he celebrated numerous successes.
Needless to say, leaving in the winter was anything but easy for him. “I still find it difficult to talk about it. The dressing room in Barcelona is fantastic and I really enjoyed my time with my teammates. It’s a big change after eleven years at the club. I was captain of Barcelona and tried to represent the club in the best possible way,” said the 33-year-old.
But in order to play regularly again and keep his World Cup chances alive, ter Stegen had to take this step. He has now joined tenth-placed Girona for the next six months – and has no regrets about his decision so far: “The experienced players have welcomed me and explained everything to me. I couldn’t have asked for a better welcome. They are all doing their best to make me feel like I belong. It’s only been a few days, but they are already doing very well.”
Debut as early as Monday?
The goalkeeper doesn’t want to take too long to settle in anyway; his goal at his new club is clear. “I want to integrate into the team as quickly as possible. I have great respect for everything Paulo Gazzaniga (Girona’s previous first-choice goalkeeper, ed.) has done for this club, but I came here with the intention and desire to play. Above all, to prove myself, which is what every soccer player wants,” ter Stegen makes clear.
In addition to his personal situation, the German keeper is of course also thinking about the World Cup in the summer. National coach Julian Nagelsmann has given ter Stegen every chance, but only if he plays. That should now be the case in Girona. “I’ll prepare as if I’m playing on Monday. Ultimately, it’s the coach’s decision, but I feel ready,” said the goalkeeper, who could make his debut on Monday (9 p.m.) against Getafe.