Ter Stegen's drama: Nagelsmann needs newcomer or Neuer | Football

Marc-André ter Stegen in great pain on the pitch. Marc-André ter Stegen at the back exit of a hospital, in a wheelchair, past large green garbage containers accompanied by team staff to the black minibus. These images from Villarreal shocked more than just Hansi Flick. Julian Nagelsmann also reacted with great dismay. The injury drama surrounding the goalkeeper of FC Barcelona and the national football team leaves no one unmoved.

Shortly after his promotion to number one in the German goal, which he had been waiting for for years, Ter Stegen will be out for months as the successor to Manuel Neuer. Barça put a red exclamation mark on the diagnosis: complete tear of the patellar tendon in his right knee. According to the club, he underwent a successful operation in the afternoon. The exact length of time he will be out will depend on how his rehab progresses, the club said.

The 32-year-old's bad luck naturally stirred sympathy everywhere. “Get well soon,” wrote former DFB colleague and Real rival Toni Kroos on X. The DFB captioned Barça's bulletin on the X platform with three broken hearts.

Nagelsmann immediately made it clear what his goalkeeper's injury meant. “The news of Marc's injury was a big shock for us. We will miss him a lot in the national team, both on and off the pitch. We wish Marc all the best for the operation and a good and quick recovery. “We will always be there for him on his way back!” promised the national coach.

Rudi Völler expressed himself in the same way. “I wish him the fastest possible recovery, all of us in the national team are firmly on his side on the next step towards his comeback.” Marc has had to deal with a number of setbacks in the course of his career. “I am convinced that he will come back stronger this time too,” stressed the DFB sports director.

Flick and Nagelsmann need solutions

As club coach, Flick must quickly find answers as to who should replace ter Stegen at Barça as captain and in goal. But his successor as national coach also needs an answer quickly. Next week, Nagelsmann will name his squad for the next international matches in the Nations League in Bosnia-Herzegovina (October 11) and in Munich against the Netherlands (October 14). His “clear number one” ter Stegen will not be available for the DFB team for the foreseeable future, possibly until the summer of next year.

The quick fan reaction: Now Neuer, despite being injured with minor thigh problems at FC Bayern, has to reverse his DFB resignation. But Nagelsmann will carefully consider what is best for the national team's promising development towards the 2026 World Cup. He has various options, all of which amount to a decision on direction. The formula is first of all: newcomer or Neuer?

The Baumann option:

Oliver Baumann was a brave number three at the European Championships. The TSG Hoffenheim goalkeeper has been waiting for his first international match for a long time without complaint. And at the advanced age of 34. His debut in Bosnia-Herzegovina would be logical. Formally, he was number two behind ter Stegen. But is Baumann the World Cup alternative? He would be 36 next summer. Internationally, he is only partially challenged in Kraichgau, on Wednesday in Midtjylland/Denmark in the Europa League. And things are not going well for him at the moment. Eleven goals conceded in four Bundesliga matches annoyed Baumann after the 1:2 defeat at Union Berlin on Saturday.

The Nübel option:

Next Monday, Alexander Nübel will be 28 years old. Nevertheless, the Bayern loanee from VfB Stuttgart is considered the man of the future in the national team. However, he has not yet played an international match in his eventful career, which included years of traveling to Monaco. Before the European Championship, Nagelsmann dropped him as the fourth goalkeeper, expressly not for performance reasons, as the national coach emphasized. If Nagelsmann now puts his trust in him, it is a perspective decision towards America and a signal that a constant alternative to ter Stegen is to be built up.

The New option:

“Today marks the end of my career with the German national football team,” said Neuer on August 21. A good month later, these words may no longer be valid. After all, resigning from the DFB after 124 international victories, eight major tournaments and many goalkeeping records is not an easy decision for the 38-year-old. But Nagelsmann – if the signals were interpreted correctly – also wanted a new impetus in this position.

Neuer may not be an option for October, especially since he is currently suffering from a thigh problem. But the legendary goalkeeper remains a general option, of course – also for the World Cup. Nagelsmann could also reactivate him immediately before the tournament, if he is not in control and Neuer is still fit and in shape at the age of 40.

The competition option:

Nagelsmann made it clear: Ter Stegen is number one. The national coach also appreciates clear conditions in this position. But now things could be different. He doesn't have to commit himself. He can send Baumann and Nübel into a duel, give both of them their international debut and see who handles the situation best.

He also has two candidates in reserve who have already proven that they can play in the national team jersey. Bernd Leno (32/9 international matches) from Fulham FC missed the European Championships because of an operation. Kevin Trapp (34 years/9 international matches) would also be available again after recovering from a muscle injury.

It remains to be seen when ter Stegen will be ready again. The games against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Hungary in mid-November are also unrealistic goals, the 2025 international season starts in March, and the Nations League title could be at stake in June.

The timing of the injury is definitely a real blow for the former Gladbach player. Captain at Barça and finally, finally Germany's number one. That was the status quo until the damned cross in Villarreal, the landing and the scream of pain. The realization that something was broken in his knee must have come quickly. The fact that his colleagues won 5:1 was only two seconds away for Flick, too.

Promotion war «Balsam»

A good two weeks ago, ter Stegen spoke about his role as a regular for the DFB. He said it was “balm for the soul”. “I'm glad that the time of waiting is now over.” Yes, I'm looking forward to the new task, to what's to come. I want to be successful,” he said, confirming his good form in the Nations League matches against Hungary (5-0) and in the Netherlands (2-2), his 41st and 42nd international matches since his debut in 2012.

Things have also been going well for ter Stegen as the new captain at FC Barcelona. They won six of their first six league games – but the last one came at a high price. Now the wait continues for ter Stegen in another bitter way.