'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
What's the news?
German goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen reveals that he considered quitting Barcelona after a slow start at the club.
In case you didn't know...
After spending four successful seasons with Borussia Monchengladbach in the Bundesliga, Marc-Andre Ter Stegen joined Barcelona in 2014.
The German goalkeeper started his career at the Nou Camp slowly, acting as a back-up option for Claudio Bravo during his initial years at the club. However, Bravo left Barcelona to join Manchester City in 2016, giving him the opportunity to establish himself as the first-choice between the sticks for the Blaugrana.
He grabbed the opportunity with both hands and he has established himself as a regular in the team since then. The 26-year has played 175 games in all competitions for the club thus far, helping the Blaugrana to win a number of trophies including three La Liga titles, four Copa Del Rey trophies to go with one UEFA Champions League triumph.
The heart of the matter
Speaking to DAZN(via Goal), Marc-Andre Ter Stegen reveals that he was about to leave Barcelona after struggling for game time during his initial years at the club.
He said:
"Basically, Claudio [Bravo] and I both managed to deal well with the situation [of competing for the No.1 shirt]. He is a great goalkeeper who earned the place back then. The coach did not have to change because he had a goalkeeper in the league who showed good performances.
"Of course, you start to ponder [your future] because playing football is the most important thing. It would not have been better if the coach had said: 'You're playing in the league now and [Bravo] in the other competitions.' That was not what I wanted and in 2016 came the situation where I had to think about leaving Barca.
He further elaborated:
"The club was up to date all the time. Claudio and I dealt with the situation openly and said we did not like it. At some point there is the moment when it is no longer tenable. Then Barcelona clearly made a decision and decided for me. I think I have paid it back so far."
What's next?
Following their recent 3-0 triumph over Real Madrid in the Copa Del Rey, Ter Stegen and Barcelona will face their bitter rivals once again in league action before squaring off against Girona for the finals of Supercopa de Catalunya on March 6.
