**The New Courtois… Hansi Flick Aims for Him as Barcelona’s Starting Goalkeeper Following Ter Stegen’s Injury**
Barcelona is facing difficulties with their goalkeeping situation after Marc-Andre ter Stegen suffered an unexpected injury during yesterday’s match against Villarreal in the sixth round of La Liga. Although the team secured a convincing 5-0 win, Ter Stegen’s injury has cast a shadow over their morale, as it has been confirmed that his season is finished.
Reports from El Nacional indicate that young Dutch goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen is being considered as a potential replacement. At just 22, Verbruggen has stood out in the English Premier League with Brighton, demonstrating strong abilities in managing the penalty area and aerial challenges, drawing comparisons to top keeper Thibaut Courtois.
Hansi Flick is in favor of pursuing Verbruggen, confident that he has the essential qualities to succeed at Barcelona, including quick reflexes and poise under pressure. Meanwhile, sporting director Deco is working to finalize the transfer before interest from other clubs grows. However, Barcelona is facing challenges, as Verbruggen is under contract with Brighton until 2028, giving the English club an advantage in negotiations.
The transfer fee is expected to be around €40 million, significantly higher than the €20 million Brighton invested in him last summer. Nonetheless, Barcelona believes this expenditure will be worthwhile to secure a top-notch goalkeeper for the future. Hansi Flick has stressed the urgency of acquiring a new goalkeeper in light of Ter Stegen’s injury, increasing the pressure on Deco and the club’s management to ensure they can secure Verbruggen.
