"If Ter Stegen wants to play in the World Cup, he has to leave Barca"

Marc-Andre ter Stegen's situation at FC Barcelona is complex. The club does not count on him and wants him to leave, but the player wants to honour his contract, which expires in 2028. In the meantime, he is still not training due to back problems. Lothar Matthaus, a German football legend, has tried to advise him.

The former Bayern Munich, Inter and Borussia Monchengladbach player told 'Sky Sport' that the best thing for the goalkeeper is to accept his departure and look for another team where they will count on him. If not, he runs the risk of others like Oliver Baumann or Alexander Nubel snatching his place in the German national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which Ter Stegen is eagerly awaiting after more than a decade in Neuer's shadow.

"If he wants to play in the World Cup, he has to leave. Ter Stegen will no longer play for Barcelona and he must have continuity to fulfil his dream of playing in the World Cup," explained Matthaus. Ter Stegen, who has 44 caps to his name, has never played a single minute at a World Cup.

The historic German footballer therefore believes that his compatriot should resign from Barca in order to pursue the World Cup goal: "These are decisions that you have to accept without complaining. This is not an isolated incident, it's part of football. It's not Hansi Flick, it's Barcelona. And nothing is bigger than the club".

"I understand Ter Stegen. He has played well, he has been captain and he has made his whole personal life at Barcelona, but he has to accept that the club has other ideas and other plans," he finished.