Ter Stegen meets Joan Garcia as he returns to training with Barcelona

The FC Barcelona squad is scheduled to begin pre-season training on Sunday 13th July, when they will start with physical tests and a first contact session. But there are those who have decided to return early to get back in shape, as is the case of Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who finds himself in a much more complex situation than in previous years.

On Thursday, three days ahead of schedule, the German goalkeeper turned up at the Joan Gamper training complex. He was there to start working out in the gymnasium with the Barca's physical trainers in order to build up his fitness after the month-long holiday break. His last match was on 8th June, the third and fourth place match in the Nations League against France, which the Germans lost 2-0.

On his arrival, Ter Stegen met up with Joan Garcia at the Barca facilities. The former Espanyol goalkeeper was one of the first to return and has been working since the beginning of the week. Barca's plan is for the Catalan to become the new first-choice goalkeeper, which adds to the morbidity of the situation.

Goalkeeping coach Josep Ramon de la Fuente and assistant Toni Tapalovic also returned to Sant Joan Despi on Thursday. Hansi Flick is expected to reappear on Friday, a day ahead of schedule, with the added bonus of a conversation with Ter Stegen to inform him of the club's plans.

After Joan and MATS, Wojciech Szczesny and Inaki Pena have yet to return to training. Flick wants Joan Garcia to be the first goalkeeper and the Pole, recently renewed until 2027, the second. But at the moment he has four goalkeepers on his books. The home-grown player, who has one year left on his contract, could leave the club as a free agent. But Ter Stegen's contract runs until 2028 and what he has been saying all along is that he wants to use it up.