On the day of his presentation, in May 2014, Marc-André ter Stegen was surprised to be asked if he preferred to defend corners in the zone or with man marking. Barcelona had paid 12 million for him. He was 22 years old and not very well known. But that money was one of the best investments the club has made. Because the German goalkeeper has already been a part of the Blaugrana team for ten years, and he would not be understood without the modern style.
That goalkeeper who spoke some Spanish on his first day and stood in blue and without gloves at the Camp Nou will reach on Wednesday in Porto the 387 official matches that Antoni Ramallets played, the first great legend between the sticks of Barcelona, winner of six Leagues and five Zamoras trophies as the goalkeeper with the fewest goals scored.
At 31 years old, Ter Stegen, who this season is seeking what would be his sixth championship and last season he won his first Zamora, is already second captain of the locker room and, after the last renewal, he has a contract until 2028. If he does, fulfills will also be fourteen courses.
With high self-confidence, he was not afraid of the shadow or the void that Víctor Valdés left behind. He filled it. And now with 255 wins (66%), he is very close to his predecessor's match winning percentage (67%). Partly thanks to the fact that in more than one in every three games, Ter Stegen keeps a clean sheet. This season he has already put the lock in five games.
If Ramallets had to coexist in his first years at Barça with Juan Velasco, whom he ousted from ownership at the end of 1949, Ter Stegen saw how in his first two seasons Claudio Bravo was chosen by Luis Enrique for the League and he He had to settle for the Champions League and the Cup. But with his confidence he has put an end to the rumor that Barcelona was no place for foreign goalkeepers after Baía, Enke, Dutruel, Bonano and Rustü were unlucky.
After the departures of Busquets and Alba, the German is the only one still in the squad that played in the 2015 Berlin final. He immediately won the Champions League, while the lost final in Berne (1961) meant the sad goodbye to Gato de Maracaná, nickname that the Catalan earned in the 1950 World Cup in Brazil.
They did not meet each other for a few months, since Antoniu died on July 30, 2013. But Ter Stegen is a great lover of the Barcelona neighborhood of Gràcia, where Ramallets was born. In addition, Ter Stegen aspires to be a starter in the return to the Spotify Camp Nou after the remodeling, just as on his day Ramallets inaugurated the Camp Nou as a member of the Barça of the Five Cups.
The German has 24 games left to reach the 410 in which Zubizarreta, his great supporter and architect of his arrival during his time as sports director, played. At that time, only Valdés (535) will have defended the Barça goal more times than him. And be careful, he can end the season among the 11 players with the most appearances and as the foreigner signed (Messi does not count) who has worn the Barça shield the most times. And no one is surprised.
