Xavi Rules Out January Goalkeeper Signing as Ter Stegen’s Recovery Progresses

Barcelona’s head coach, Xavi Hernandez, has definitively stated that the club will not be seeking a goalkeeper in the January transfer window to replace the injured Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.

The decision to rest Ter Stegen came after he returned from the November international break with Germany, citing back pain. In his absence, Inaki Pena has stepped in as the interim goalkeeper.

While the exact timeline for Ter Stegen’s return remains uncertain, Xavi’s recent comments express confidence in the 31-year-old’s swift recovery. Xavi stated, “It’s not an option to sign a goalkeeper. We’re confident with what we have. We trust Marc will recover soon,” as reported by Marca.

With four upcoming games before the winter break, Barcelona is optimistic that Ter Stegen will be back in action at the start of 2024. In the meantime, Pena, who has started the last three games across various competitions, will maintain his position as the goalkeeper, having conceded two goals during this period.