Barcelona captain receives clear message from Hansi Flick after Copa del Rey snub

Barcelona’s 2-0 victory over Racing Santander in the Copa del Rey may have looked routine on the surface, but beneath it lay a message that was impossible to ignore. 

By leaving Marc-Andre ter Stegen on the bench for a competition where rotation was expected, Hansi Flick made his position very clear. 

The German coach appears to have decided that Ter Stegen is no longer part of his immediate plans.

The situation now puts serious pressure on the goalkeeper, who effectively has two weeks to resolve his future. 

Until very recently, Barcelona had received only one concrete enquiry, from Girona, and even that has not yet progressed into a formal agreement. 

Still, all signs point towards a strong possibility of Ter Stegen leaving during the winter transfer window.

Ter Stegen needs to leave

For Ter Stegen, this is a critical moment in his career, as he needs regular minutes and competitive rhythm, especially with the FIFA World Cup on the horizon. 

Ter Stegen needs to find a new team. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Sitting on the bench does not help him reach peak condition, and the Copa del Rey was realistically one of the few competitions where he could have rebuilt momentum. 

Flick’s decision to overlook him, even in that context, speaks volumes.

With the current dynamic inside the squad, the German’s playing time will be extremely limited and that directly clashes with his objective of arriving at the World Cup as a serious contender to start for Germany. 

Girona remain keen

From the club’s side, the door has already been opened. Until last week, sporting director Deco had only been contacted by Girona, who explored a loan deal until the end of the season. 

Barcelona showed flexibility, even offering to cover part of Ter Stegen’s salary to facilitate a move.

Ultimately, the decision now rests with the player. He can take a calculated risk and seek a loan move that guarantees him minutes, or he can stay put until 2028, when his contract expires, and accept a secondary role. 

If the goal is to remain relevant at the international level, a temporary exit looks like the most logical path.