Girona close shock loan deal for Barcelona star as Catalan rivals seal surprise January coup for high-profile Camp Nou talent.
The 33-year-old captain, displaced by Joan García’s rapid ascent, prioritises regular minutes near home ahead of Germany’s 2026 World Cup push, rejecting Premier League overtures from West Ham.
With financial intricacies resolved through major salary concessions, this intra-regional transfer reshapes Barcelona’s pecking order and ignites Girona’s ambitions.
That star is Marc-André ter Stegen, whose Camp Nou tenure—423 appearances, 17 trophies since 2014—ends temporarily after back surgery sidelined him until December and Flick firmly installed García as No. 1.
Fabrizio Romano confirms a verbal pact, with Girona covering under €1 million of his wages while ter Stegen waives the bulk to facilitate the move until June.
Expect his Montilivi debut versus Getafe on January 26, replacing inconsistent Paulo Gazzaniga and outgoing Dominik Livaković.
For Barcelona, offloading ter Stegen’s high salary eases FFP pressures amid squad investments like Rashford’s pursuit.
Wojciech Szczęsny and García anchor the goalkeeping unit, with Iñaki Peña potentially returning from Elche.
Ter Stegen’s Girona choice stems from family proximity—100km north—over Saudi or English riches, safeguarding his Nagelsmann relevance despite a single Copa del Rey outing this term.
Girona fans buzz with excitement, viewing the Champions League winner as a statement amid mid-table struggles.
Michel envisions an immediate impact in La Liga and Copa del Rey quarters, leveraging ter Stegen’s distribution for their possession game.
This blockbuster loan underscores Barcelona’s bold rebuild under Flick, prioritising youth and financial health while granting a club legend regular action near home.
Barcelona retain his 2028 contract post-loan, but his World Cup form could spark summer suitors. This “Here We Go” saga underscores Flick’s ruthlessness and Girona’s savvy within City Football Group dynamics.
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