Joan García’s Copa del Rey start confirms a hierarchy shift, with Girona moving quickly for the German on loan
Marc-André ter Stegen’s time at FC Barcelona appears to be nearing an end after Hansi Flick opted to start Joan García in the 0-2 Copa del Rey win over Real Racing Club on Thursday.
Ter Stegen started the previous Copa del Rey match against CD Guadalajara in the Round of 32, but with Girona’s interest intensifying, coupled with the decision to drop him for the most recent round of the cup, the German’s chances of staying at the club beyond January appear slim.
“Joan is number one and that’s why he’s playing, it’s an important game,” Flick told Movistar +.
“Some players need rest, we have to be careful with that, but everyone who plays knows how important the game is.”
The German international may have hoped the Copa del Rey would offer a path back into regular contention.
He did start earlier in the competition against Guadalajara, yet that outing is now viewed internally as little more than proof of recovery after injury. It was not the start of a rotation policy, nor a sign that Flick intended to split responsibilities.
🕺 Raphinha stole the limelight as Hansi Flick extended his flawless final streak
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— BB Sport News (@BBSportNews24) January 12, 2026
Girona emerge as the clearest exit route for Ter Stegen
With Flick’s plans clear, attention has shifted to Ter Stegen’s future. A move away from Barcelona is increasingly likely, and the most advanced option on the table is a loan to Girona.
According to MARCA, Girona have already approached Barcelona to explore the conditions of a deal, but the challenge is financial. Ter Stegen’s salary, understood to be around €17 million per season, is well beyond what Girona can accommodate. That has shaped the talks from the outset.
Barcelona know that if the move happens, they will have to shoulder most of the wage burden. Discussions between sporting director Deco and Girona counterpart Quique Cárcel have focused on how much Barcelona would contribute to make the loan viable.
From the club’s perspective, it is an imperfect but practical solution. Paying a significant portion of a non-starting player’s salary is not ideal, but keeping one of the highest earners on the bench makes even less sense. Any reduction, however modest, eases the wage bill while allowing Flick’s squad plan to remain intact.
For Ter Stegen, Girona offers something Barcelona no longer can at this stage: regular minutes and a clear role. Meanwhile for Flick, it removes ambiguity from a key position and reinforces his authority early in his tenure.
In July 2025, Flick reportedly informed ter Stegen that he would be relegated to third-choice goalkeeper. The message came after Barcelona completed the arrival of García and moved to extend the contract of Wojciech Szczęsny.