With Joe Hart a few games into his season-long loan to Italy, you probably thought all that talk about how well goalkeepers can use their feet was done with for a little while.
You were wrong.
Before replacing Hart with Claudio Bravo, Pep Guardiola was also linked with a move for Marc-Andre ter Stegen – Barcelona’s other goalkeeper. Presumably, the German’s ability with a ball at his feet had caught the attention of Guardiola, although he probably would’ve stopped short of sticking him in the City midfield…
According to reports earlier this week, Barca boss Luis Enrique was contemplating fielding ter Stegen in a midfield role for their Champions League tie with Borussia Monchengladbach on Wednesday.
Midfielder Sergio Busquets picked up an injury over the weekend, prompting some to suggest that the German’s ability as an outfield player was good enough to see him cover his teammate’s absence.
As fascinating as it would’ve been to see a goalkeeper in the brilliant Barcelona midfield, against his former club no less, it now appears that this was nothing more than a rumour – stemming from an opinion piece in Catalunyan outlet, Sport.
As pointed out by Goal, There’s absolutely nothing to suggest that Luis Enrique was ever considering making such a switch either, meaning ter Stegen will continue in Barcelona’s goal when kick off arrives back in his hometown on Wednesday evening.
