In an interview with Germany’s Bild newspaper, Barcelona captain Marc-André ter Stegen spoke about his relationship with Lionel Messi.
The two spent seven years together at the club, experiencing both great and tough moments. Reflecting on their time together, ter Stegen shared his thoughts on Messi, who is considered the best player in Barcelona’s history.
Ter Stegen joined Barcelona in 2014 at the age of 22. At that time, the club’s first-choice goalkeeper was the experienced Claudio Bravo. After not getting much playing time, ter Stegen wanted to leave for Manchester City. However, Barcelona’s coach at the time, Luis Enrique, was determined not to let him go. Despite meeting with City’s Pep Guardiola, ter Stegen stayed at Barcelona, while Bravo eventually joined Manchester City in 2016.
From then on, ter Stegen became Barcelona’s first-choice goalkeeper. After Sergi Roberto left the club at the end of last season, ter Stegen became the club’s captain. He’s slowly returning to training after undergoing knee surgery and is preparing to get back on the field for the team.
Despite wanting more playing time and considering leaving, ter Stegen never did. On the other hand, Messi, despite wanting to stay, could not remain at Barcelona due to the club’s financial struggles.
When asked about his best memories with Messi in the interview, ter Stegen replied, “Is it from a good situation or a bad one? We’ve had both.”
“Leo is a unique character. He’s at this level because, I think, he draws inspiration from things we don’t see. We’ve had moments when we disagreed because he was upset with me, and I was upset with him,” he continued.
“I think Leo is probably the only player who could hit a shot in your face if he wanted to. Others might hit you anywhere, but he has the ability to hit the target.”
Ter Stegen confirmed this experience was true.
“A few times (laughs). But not out of anger… he has the ability to make someone look foolish with a pass or shot. It seems impossible when you see it. I’ve experienced it myself, and I’m thankful that he’s always been on my team, not against me.”
The 32-year-old goalkeeper also shared whether they ever settled their differences.
“We never had an argument that would make you think we weren’t getting along. But, yes, we had bad moments, which is fine. We spent a lot of time in the same locker room.”
“And it was always intriguing to see him lead the team, whether it aligned with our style or not. Leo doesn’t talk much. He lets his presence do the talking, and honestly, he doesn’t need to say much. But when he does speak, everyone listens. As a captain, that’s what you want — when you speak, everyone listens and follows you.”
