Barcelona renew 27-year-old crucial star’s contract with €500m release clause – The right move?

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Why Marc-Andre Ter Stegen is worthy of his new contract at Barcelona

According to Daily Mail, Marc-Andre ter Stegen has renewed his contract with Barcelona. The new deal will keep the shot-stopper at the club until 2025. It is also worth noting that a mammoth release clause of €500million has been inserted in the agreement.

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Ter Stegen, 27, came through the ranks of Borussia Monchengladbach’s youth system and was promoted to the club’s senior side in 2010. In 127 games for the Bundesliga outfit, he kept 45 clean sheets and his impressive performances earned him a move to Camp Nou in the summer of 2014.

After struggling for two years and playing second-fiddle to Claudio Bravo, he became the first-choice stopper when the Chilean moved to England. Since then, Ter Stegen has made 238 appearances for the Blaugrana and has become one of the best players in the squad. During that time, he has kept a massive 100 clean sheets too.

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DORTMUND, GERMANY – MARCH 15: Robert Lewandowski of Dortmund goes up for a header with goalkeeper Marc Andre ter Stegen of Moenchengladbach during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and Borussia Moenchengladbach at Signal Iduna Park on March 15, 2014 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Lars Baron/Bongarts/Getty Images)

One of the best sweeper keepers in the world, Ter Stegen had a rather nightmare 2019/20 season when Barcelona were pipped to the league title and given the thrashing of their lives in the Champions League quarter-final. The German has been rather unlucky with the national team as he has played just 2 games over the last 8 years due to the presence of Manuel Neuer.

Barcelona made the right call to extend his contract

For a club going through a transition, it is also important to hold on to a few players and keep certain things constant. The club sold the likes of Luis Suarez and Arturo Vidal and got in fresh faces in the form of Pedri, Sergino Dest and Trincao.

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Barcelona’s German goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen (C) stops a penalty kicked by Valencia’s Uruguayan forward Maxi Gomez (R) during the Spanish league football match Valencia CF against FC Barcelona at the Mestalla stadium in Valencia on January 25, 2020. (Photo by JOSE JORDAN / AFP) (Photo by JOSE JORDAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Amidst all of Barcelona’s continental woes, Ter Stegen has been a reliable presence in goal. Only last season did he show some bad form. Ever since taking over from Claudio Bravo in 2016, he has kept high standards in goal. He hasn’t allowed any other goalkeeper to usurp his position.

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In all these years, he has been a model professional. He has never shown any willingness to exit the club. As one of the longest-serving and important members of the squad, it was only logical that Barcelona decided to renew his contract. It is the right move indeed.