Barcelona captain reaches agreement with Galatasaray despite initial doubts

Yahoo

8 hours ago

In a surprising twist to Barcelona's summer transfer window, Turkish outlet Fanatik (h/t Mundo Deportivo) reports that club captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen has reached an agreement with Galatasaray, signalling a potential end to his long and decorated tenure at Camp Nou.
It is known that while the German goalkeeper still has a contract with Barcelona until 2028, he has grown increasingly unsettled due to the ongoing uncertainty surrounding his role and the club's long-term sporting project.
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Despite Ter Stegen's recent public statements expressing his desire to remain at Barça, the situation appears to be shifting rapidly behind the scenes.
Ter Stegen is ready to leave
According to the outlet, Ter Stegen is ready for a new challenge, and Galatasaray are keen to pounce.
The Turkish giants, fresh off a high-profile coup in the form of Leroy Sane from Bayern Munich, appear to be making a bold statement about their ambitions.
Negotiations between Galatasaray and Barcelona have not yet reached the final stages, but the Turkish club's strategy is clear.
Galatasaray want to sign Ter Stegen. (Photo by)
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They want to secure Ter Stegen on a free transfer or, at the very least, a symbolic fee so they can redirect the bulk of their budget towards covering his significant wages.
As such, it is said that they are ready to offer him €5 million net per season.
While letting a player of Ter Stegen's calibre go without a substantial fee might seem unthinkable under normal circumstances, the Blaugrana could be tempted if it helps them clear his high salary from their books and avoid paying out the final three years of his contract.
At 33, Ter Stegen still has plenty of years left at the top level, but with Joan Garcia already brought in for €25 million as a long-term successor, the writing could be on the wall.
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Financial fair play remains a serious challenge for Barcelona, and reducing the wage bill is a clear priority this summer.
Offloading one of their highest earners, especially if the goalkeeper himself is open to the move, would help balance the books and open the door for further reinforcements.