Countdown to the Comeback: Ter Stegen’s Return Sparks Barcelona’s Goalkeeper Dilemma

Recovery race and the Flick-era puzzle

The German goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen is racing against time to be ready for Barcelona's clash with Osasuna, as coach Hansi Flick remains firm with his current goalkeeping choices.

According to Mundo Deportivo, ter Stegen, 33, is in the final phase of recovery from the back injury that required surgery on July 29.

The paper notes the keeper is intensifying his daily work and hopes to obtain medical clearance next week, so he can be available to Flick for the Saturday game at Spotify Camp Nou.

Who wears the gloves for now?

Meanwhile, Flick is convinced the team's first-choice remains Juan Garcia, 24, who joined from Espanyol this summer.

That decision did not come out of nowhere, because Flick and sporting director Deco had trusted Garcia and Wojciech Szczesny (35) since the start of the season, signaling that the Ter Stegen era may be ending.

In match lists, teams usually name three goalkeepers, and for now include reserve keepers such as Ider Ayr and Diego Koshin; Ter Stegen could rejoin the squad, but his actual playing chances look very limited given the current dynamic.

He had initially forecast a three-month absence, during the tense period before surgery, when he refused to let Barca use his medical data to file a La Liga request to create room under the salary cap for Garcia, but his recovery has run over four months.

With the winter transfer window opening January 1, the German keeper knows his situation is delicate, especially with Germany needing to see him play regularly before deciding whether to include him in a 2026 World Cup squad.

On the other hand, Barca respects Ter Stegen's contract through 2028 and his salary, but it's not ruling out him seeking a new club in January, a move the club would not block if it brings benefit, especially financially.

Punchlines: If Ter Stegen makes it back, Barca wins the season by reverse gear. Osasuna might just file a warranty.