Barcelona closely monitoring out-of-favour veteran’s fresh start away from club

Barcelona closely monitoring out-of-favour veteran’s fresh start away from club According to SPORT , FC Barcelona are keeping a close watch on Marc-Andre ter Stegen and his ‘reset’ away from the club at AFC Ajax. With the veteran shot-stopper showing positive signs during the recent international break , the Blaugrana are keeping a close eye on how his season progresses. After a difficult season in which he lost prominence at Barça before suffering an injury that disrupted his loan spell at Girona, his arrival at Ajax has not been entirely straightforward. His performances at the start of the campaign with the Dutch giants have fallen short of the commanding standards he maintained for years at the Camp Nou. However, the recent international break has offered a fresh perspective. Ter Stegen’s outstanding performance for Germany under Jurgen Klopp against the Netherlands should give him a significant confidence boost as he looks to rediscover his best version. Nine saves against the Netherlands provide a timely boost Making his return to the Germany starting line-up against the side managed by Xavi Hernandez, Ter Stegen delivered an exceptional display. He made nine saves, several of them decisive, to help Klopp’s team secure a point. Ter Stegen impressed against the Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images) Ter Stegen needed a performance like this to return to Ajax with renewed confidence, while the Amsterdam club also need him to reach his best level. The Dutch club’s manager, Michel, continues to have complete confidence in the goalkeeper he first signed at Girona and subsequently brought to Amsterdam. If he establishes himself as one of the team’s leaders and maintains a high standard throughout the season, Amsterdam could become much more than a temporary stop in his career. Klopp must choose between Germany’s future and Ter Stegen Beyond club football, however, there is also the question of the Germany national team. One of Klopp’s major decisions will be choosing his first-choice goalkeeper. Manuel Neuer’s international career appears to be over. Oliver Baumann, 36, offers experience but is not a long-term solution and has not reached the elite level Neuer maintained for so many years. Behind him, younger goalkeepers such as Jonas Urbig and Noah Atubolu are emerging, but they still have plenty to prove before they can establish themselves as undisputed first choices. Ter Stegen’s contract at Barcelona runs until 2028. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) Klopp therefore faces a decision: commit to the next generation or keep the door open for Ter Stegen, who has waited years for the opportunity to become Germany’s undisputed number one. That makes his season at Ajax particularly important. His performances will also be closely monitored by Barcelona, as the German is due to return to the Catalan club at the end of the campaign. His contract with the Blaugrana runs until the summer of 2028. The purpose of the loan was to give him regular playing time and help him regain his confidence and sharpness. If he also manages to rediscover his best form, the arrangement could benefit everyone involved, as Barça would be in a position to offload him permanently for a decent fee.