Football
Stephan Uersfeld, Germany correspondent 10y

Ter Stegen waves goodbye to Gladbach

Marc-Andre ter Stegen bid farewell to his hometown club Borussia Moenchengladbach at the weekend, with the goalkeeper widely believed to be on his way to Barcelona.

#INSERT type:image caption:Marc-Andre ter Stegen is believed to be on his way to Barcelona. END#

Some 18 years after ter Stegen, who is out of contract in the summer, first joined the Foals, he made his final appearance at Borussia Park against Mainz on Saturday.

Following yet another impressive performance by the keeper, Gladbach secured their return to Europe by securing a 3-1 victory.

However, the headlines belonged to ter Stegen, who said an emotional goodbye to the fans after the game, before breaking down into tears.

"I am delighted that we've won my final home game. There could not have been a better goodbye," ter Stegen told Westdeutsche Zeitung.

"What happened postmatch was just breathtaking. You don't often get that in the Bundesliga, and most of all not at every club. Borussia is something special.

"It's just like that, I've been born here. I am a Gladbach lad. Until now, this has been my only club. I will remain a Gladbach fan. Everyone knows that."

The Germany international will embark on a new adventure this summer when he will reportedly join Catalan giants Barcelona.

While the deal has not yet officially been confirmed, the German media are 100 percent sure that it is only a matter of time before the announcement is made.

Ter Stegen, however, has continued to play down the reports, adding: "Who says that I will join Barcelona? A few days after the final match of the season I will announce my decision."

Before he joins his new club in July, ter Stegen has not yet given up hope of making Germany's World Cup squad, with coach Joachim Loew set to announce his preliminary squad on Thursday.

With only Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer guaranteed a place in the squad so far and Rene Adler enduring a frustrating campaign with struggling Hamburg, Brazil still seems to be a real possibility for ter Stegen.

"We'll see what the Bundestrainer [Loew] will decide," ter Stegen said. "I think I have played a good season."

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