Hansi Flick’s Dilemma at Barcelona: Four Goalkeepers for One Position
He cut his vacation short and returns with a bombshell. Hansi Flick is back at Barça ahead of schedule… with a crucial decision that could shake the locker room: who will be the starting goalkeeper?
The German coach lands this Thursday in Barcelona
Hansi Flick didn’t wait until Sunday. The new FC Barcelona manager has shortened his holiday —split between Formentera and Germany— and will arrive in the Catalan capital this Thursday to begin planning the new season. The club expects him at the Ciutat Esportiva on Friday, where he’ll start laying the groundwork for the 2024-25 project.
The squad is officially set to report back on Sunday, July 14, for medical and physical testing. But Flick doesn’t want to waste time — especially with one urgent decision looming: the goalkeeper spot is overcrowded, and the hierarchy is unclear.
Four goalkeepers, one spot
With Joan García’s arrival and Wojciech Szczęsny’s renewal, Barça now has four goalkeepers: Marc-André ter Stegen, Iñaki Peña, García, and Szczęsny. And Flick already has a plan: Joan García will be the starter, with the Polish international as his backup. That leaves Ter Stegen out of the equation… at least for now.
According to club sources, Flick intends to meet face-to-face with the German in the coming days to explain his idea. A delicate decision —and one that could stir things up in the dressing room.
Ter Stegen doesn’t want to leave
From the German keeper’s camp, the message is clear: Ter Stegen has no plans to go. He’s under contract until 2028, has no interest in leaving, and is ready to fight for his spot. But Flick’s arrival changes everything, and for the first time in years, his starting role isn’t guaranteed.
Will he accept the new role… or make a surprise move before the transfer window closes?