Watch: The moment that may have turned Flick and Laporta against Barcelona captain amidst exit speculation

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5 hours ago

Watch: The moment that may have turned Flick and Laporta against Barcelona captain amidst exit speculation
According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona's La Liga title celebration after the Villarreal game did not go exactly as planned, and it had a lot to do with Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
While the club had planned a grand post-match celebration to thank the fans, tension erupted behind the scenes after the German goalkeeper refused to give a speech to supporters.
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The Estadi Olímpic de Montjuic was filled with joy, banners, and nearly 50,000 fans ready to celebrate the club's league triumph.
The game against Villarreal had been scheduled as the final home match of the campaign and a special moment for players and fans to connect after securing the title days earlier in the derby at Espanyol.
Everything had been set for a proper celebration, including media announcements that the players, especially captain Ter Stegen, would address the fans.
Ter Stegen's silence and the fallout
However, in a surprise move, Ter Stegen declined to speak after the match. The goalkeeper was reportedly upset about his lack of playing time since returning from injury and felt sidelined during the crucial run-in of the season.
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That frustration spilled into what was meant to be a moment of unity and gratitude.
His decision to go silent left many at the club, especially the management and board members, furious.
Sources claim that both Joan Laporta and Hansi Flick were seen having a visibly tense conversation on the pitch immediately after the game, with expressions suggesting confusion and frustration.
The board had been clear in their instructions to organise the event and expected Ter Stegen, as one of the team leaders, to represent the squad with a few words of appreciation.
Ter Stegen's decision is believed to be deeply rooted in his dissatisfaction over his role in the closing stages of the season, even after being medically cleared.
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The internal debate surrounding his status and this public incident may further raise questions about his future leadership role at the club, especially with Joan Garcia's imminent arrival.
At a time when harmony was expected, Barcelona instead faced a moment of internal discontent, with the celebration marred by unexpected drama and disappointment.