Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s demotion at FC Barcelona is causing quite a stir. In the background, a special connection to the consulting agency of the new number 1, Joan Garcia, also plays a role.
Joan Garcia smiles as he holds up the bright green jersey to the camera. It says 2031. That’s how long his contract with FC Barcelona, which he has just signed, will run. He is flanked by his advisors, Andy Bara and Juanma Lopez, from the Niagara Sports agency. It is June 20, and it is already becoming apparent what championship and cup-winning coach Hansi Flick has apparently communicated to Marc-Andre ter Stegen: The German national goalkeeper will only be number three at the Catalan club behind Garcia and Wojciech Szczesny, who recently extended his contract.
In addition to sporting and financial aspects – it can be assumed that ter Stegen, as a key player and after more than ten years with the Spanish double winners, is likely to have a generous annual salary – the significance behind the photo from June 20 should also be examined. Or rather, the significance of the supposed supporting actors in it, Lopez and Bara, the leading figures at Niagara.
