Amid the numerous injuries that have decimated the team this season, one of the players most missed by FC Barcelona during his time in the infirmary was the German goalkeeper, Marc Andre Ter Stegen.
The goalkeeper had to take a break from action after suffering an issue with his back while on international duty. This problem required Ter Stegen to undergo surgery, and he remained on the sidelines for about three months before returning to action earlier this month.
Although he had to miss extensive game time this season, the quality of the German shot-stopper is beyond any doubt. With this quality, the German attracts a lot of attention in the market, with Achraf Ben Ayad reporting that Ter Stegen has recently received an offer from Saudi Arabia.
However, according to a report from Mundo Deportivo, the 31-year-old German player’s entourage declined any knowledge of such a proposal: “We don’t know anything.”
Ter Stegen is one of the leaders of the current Barcelona dressing room, and is the one who usually captains the team, as Sergi Roberto has found game time sparse this season. Although he is yet to keep a clean sheet in the three matches he has played since returning from injury, his return has already provided an increased sense of security to the Barcelona backline.
With such importance on the pitch and in the dressing room, Barcelona will not be too keen on allowing the German to leave. However, their economic situation can still force their hand, but there are a lot of uncertainties regarding this operation, and it remains to be seen how it develops for the future.
The goalkeeper has been associated with the Catalan club since 2014, and after having completed ten seasons with the Blaugranes, he was awarded with a new contract last year that goes till 2028. In addition to extending his association with the club, this contract also deferred a part of his salary for the two years that were remaining on his previous contract.