Ter Stegen Confident of Setting Into A New Barca Culture

Barcelona’s new signing Marc-Andre Ter Stegen remains confident he will adapt quickly to the Spanish giants’ playing style.

The goalkeeper was presented to the club supporters and had his first media briefing, after putting pen to paper on a five-year deal on Thursday.

“I know where I am coming to and I am delighted with the challenge it presents” the 22-year-old, who replaces the out-going Victor Valdes said. “I want to adapt to being here. I think this’ll be a nice home for me.”

Ter Stegen Step On To the Nou Camp Pitch for the First Time on Thursday.
Ter Stegen Step On To the Nou Camp Pitch for the First Time on Thursday.

The goalkeeper acknowledges the move from home city club to the Catalan giants was a “very important step forward” in his career and looks forward to winning trophies in Spain.

“It is a personal challenge that I think I am capable of dealing with,” he added.

“FC Barcelona is one of the biggest clubs in the world and has enjoyed a lot of success in recent years. They didn’t get any titles this year, but I hope they do in the future. It’s a dream come true for me.”

He became Monchengladbach’s first-choice goalkeeper in the 2010/11 season, following some impressive performance with the Bundesliga club’s reserve in the previous season.

And after being linked with the ‘Baulgranas’, the goalkeeper, who has been capped by Germany, refused to renew his contract with Monchengladbach in January.

Barca is believed to have paid the sum of €12m to the Bundesliga outfit who finished 6th this season.

He reiterated his gratitude to Monchengladbach for being so supportive of his wishes throughout the long negotiation process with FC Barcelona.

Ter Stegen named retired German goalkeeper Oliver Khan and Valdes, who leaves the Nou Camp this summer as his role models.

“When you’re young, you need a goalkeeper like him to inspire you” he said. “He was one of the best keepers ever. But at the end of the day, you have to create your own style, and that’s what I did. Now it’s time to take it a step further.

“Víctor Valdés is a spectacular goalkeeper who has done a lot for this team and won loads of titles over the years. He always performed well and deserves a good farewell. But right now, it’s time for me to start thinking about my own work.”

Barcelona Sporting Director Andoni Zubizareta said: “Ter Stegen is fast, agile, decisive, strong in the air, good in the one-on-one and able to relate well with his defence, especially when they play so deep as they do here. There is room for improvement, as there is with anyone, but he is also very good with the ball at his feet. That’s important for us here at Barça, but on top of that, he has all the other qualities I mentioned.”