Barcelona has placed one of its key stars on the January exit list, with a permanent departure now looking increasingly likely.
With Hansi Flick having reshaped the hierarchy in goal and prioritized a new first-choice option, a previously unthinkable scenario is now firmly on the table: a mid-season exit for a dressing-room heavyweight in search of minutes and rhythm ahead of a crucial International year.
The situation blends sporting, personal, and institutional factors, with Deco and the sporting department determined to respect the player’s status while still backing the coach’s competitive criteria.
January departure nears for Barcelona veteran Marc-André ter Stegen, who is nearing the end of his recovery from back surgery and is expected to receive medical clearance this week, potentially before the La Liga clash against Osasuna, as reported by Mundo Deportivo.
Despite this imminent return, Ter Stegen will find it difficult to reclaim his old role, as Flick is clear that Joan Garcia is now his undisputed number one, leaving the captain facing the prospect of being reduced to a secondary or even third-choice role for the remainder of the season.
A winter exit has therefore not been ruled out, with reports in Germany indicating that a January move could provide Ter Stegen with the regular minutes and match sharpness he needs to secure his place in the Germany squad for the 2026 World Cup.
Turkish clubs have already shown interest in the 32-year-old, although no formal offers have yet arrived at Barcelona’s offices.
Deco recently acknowledged that the club could keep him as third-choice goalkeeper until June, stressing that the priority remains his full recovery before any definitive call is made on his future.
With just weeks left before the winter window opens, all eyes will be on whether the captain chooses to fight for his place at Barça or seek a fresh challenge to protect his international ambitions.
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