Marc-André Ter Stegen is in front of the comeback in the DFB goal at the Nations League final tournament. He accepts rumors about his possible ending at FC Barcelona before the semi -finals against Portugal. He calls the backing of the DFB “spectacular”.
Marc-André Ter Stegen is already looking forward to Portugal’s eternal striker Cristiano Ronaldo. The former Clásico duel in Spain between the goalkeeper of FC Barcelona and the former goal scorer of Real Madrid will take place in the semi -finals of the Nations League on Wednesday (from 9 p.m. Live in the AudioStream on Sportschau.de) in Munich – under new signs.
For ter Stegen, his 43rd international match becomes a cold start in the DFB goal. After nine months of international break due to a patella tendon tear in the right knee, he was only able to collect sparse practice in the end of the season at FC Barcelona. “It was a serious injury”said Ter Stegen. But he feels good. “Nice to be here again”he said on Sunday in the DFB district in Herzogenaurach.
“At the best level” he wants to show himself when he returned to the DFB goal. To see again with the repeated world football player Ronaldo, who has now kicked a lot of money in Saudi Arabia and has been 40 since February, he said with a smile: “We had a few duels. I’m curious to see what is coming.” His statistics are good: Ronaldo only hit him once in Spain’s league.
Know each other from the Primera Division: Cristiano Ronaldo (right) and Marc-André Ter Stegen
Clear Nagelsmann signal
Ter Stegen is happy to be able to clear out his first big tournament as a German number one at the Nations League final tournament at the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
National coach Julian Nagelsmann immediately again awarded the 33-year-old to the tram goalkeeper status. Despite the remarkable achievements of Hoffenheimer Oliver Baumann during the Stegen’s absence. This also impressed the returnee deeply: “The backing is spectacular for me”said Ter Stegen. He wants to justify them with performance.
“I know I’m in Barcelona next year”
During the training on Sunday, he was sitting on a gymnastics ball on the pitch in the HomeGround and had to ward off the shots by goalkeeper coach Andreas Kronenberg with a motor skills. He later took a seat on the press podium and mainly had to parry questions about FC Barcelona. Supposedly, the uninvestable Ter Stegen has become a candidate for sales after his injury – despite the contract until 2028.
Panic? Uncertainty? No. Ter Stegen radiated demonstrative serenity. And determination to fight. “So nobody spoke to me. I know that I am in Barcelona next year”he announced.
No conversation with Flick – why?
It is everything as always. “We always had great goalkeepers in previous years. There is competition in every position in Barcelona. I’m extremely looking forward to the new season because we have a great team that is young, dynamic and hungry.” There was no contact with club coach Hansi Flick because of the sales rumors. “I don’t know why? said Ter Stegen.
His focus is on the DFB comeback. And it could happen that Ter Stegen then meets European champion Spain in the Nation’s League final-and sends a signal to his unchanged class to Barcelona. But first it goes against Portugal – “A hard opponent for us”as Ter Stegen finds. Nagelsmann rely on him in terms of sport. “I am very good things that he will play two top games.”
A trio fails – sweepers are nominated
The national coach had to manage some changes in his squad at the weekend. First the Mainz midfielder Nadiem Amiri traveled with adductor complaints. Then Inter Milan defender Yann Aurel Bisseck (24) injured himself after his substitution in the Champions League final. Nagelsmann nominated Thilo Kehrer (28) from AS Monaco to fix the bottleneck on the defensive. Finally, striker Jonathan Burkardt also had to leave, who pulled a crack on the heel during training, which had to be sewn and required a football break.
By the way, Nagelsmann called the sales rumors around Ter Stegen “Not my construction site. I don’t get scared and worried either – and Marc is not.” Ter Stegen is “top in” in training, that currently counts for the national coach.
After over a decade behind Manuel Neuer, Nagelsmann totally trusts the eternal crown prince ter Stegen – even without much match practice: “Marc is at an age when we say that he doesn’t need this mega rhythm. If he were now 22, 23, I would worry about it.”