Barcelona’s pre-season tour has stirred more headlines off the pitch than on it.
Following a dominant 7-3 win against FC Seoul, questions about the club’s internal decisions continue to take centre stage.
Manager Hansi Flick has been openly reshaping his squad, but it’s the rumblings around the goalkeeper position that have grabbed the spotlight.
Joan Garcia’s arrival has sparked whispers across Catalonia, with many wondering if it signals the beginning of the end for a long-serving figure.
Tensions seem to be growing behind the scenes, especially with the emergence of reports suggesting Barcelona could make a change in leadership within the squad.
Frenkie de Jong has broken his silence on the controversy surrounding teammate Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who finds himself at the heart of a dramatic power shift at Camp Nou.
Despite reports labelling the 33-year-old goalkeeper as persona non grata, Frenkie de Jong publicly voiced his support following Barca’s recent friendly.
“For me, Marc is the team captain, just as he was last season,” said de Jong post-match via Mundo Deportivo.
“Marc is a world-class player and has always given his all to the club, so I support Marc a lot, and from what I know, the team as well.”
Ter Stegen, currently sidelined due to back surgery, has reportedly grown frustrated by the club’s pursuit of Joan Garcia and suggestions that he could now be third choice this season.
Some believe the veteran’s three-month injury announcement was timed to block Barcelona from invoking emergency signing rules to register Garcia using ter Stegen’s salary space.
Speculation also points to the German being stripped of the captain’s armband, a decision that may have been driven more by club officials than the coaching team.
Hansi Flick moved to calm the storm, saying, “I intend to hold a vote to decide the captains, just like last season.”
When asked how ter Stegen had reacted to Garcia’s arrival, de Jong responded diplomatically: “I don’t know, you’ll have to ask him.
“He [Garcia] has a lot of quality.”
Forward Ferran Torres also backed ter Stegen: “Just because of his experience and the years he’s been there, I think he’ll be captain.”
Whether the dressing room votes match the boardroom’s direction remains to be seen.
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