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The World Cup takes place every four years and carries far more prestige than any other tournament in football. No player wants to miss out on the chance to step onto the world stage, which is precisely why stars like Marc-André ter Stegen and Kobbie Mainoo are reportedly looking for a transfer in January 2026.
Ter Stegen was previously sidelined for months following back surgery and only fully recovered in recent weeks. However, Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has now established Joan García as his starting goalkeeper, with Wojciech Szczęsny available as a reliable backup option.
This leaves Ter Stegen in an awkward position: with the World Cup just six months away, it will be incredibly difficult for him to get regular minutes. Without consistent playing time, he won't be able to prove to Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann that he is in peak form and deserves to be the national team's undisputed number one.
Girona has emerged as a viable potential destination for the German keeper. Their manager, Míchel, made no secret of his admiration, stating bluntly: "I would absolutely love to have Ter Stegen in our squad! He is a world-class goalkeeper, and any team in the world would want a shot-stopper of his caliber."
Ter Stegen's potential move to Girona is no coincidence; the club’s own goalkeeper is facing the exact same predicament. Croatia’s number one, Dominik Livaković, transferred to Girona last summer but has rarely seen the pitch since. Desperate to protect his spot in the national team for the World Cup, he plans to secure an early exit in January.
Two Manchester United Players Face the Same Dilemma
Manchester United also has players urgently hunting for game time to lock down their World Cup spots, and Kobbie Mainoo is the textbook example. Once heralded as one of English football’s brightest rising stars, his minutes have plummeted since Rúben Amorim took charge, casting a dark shadow over his prospects of making England’s World Cup squad.
Since Thomas Tuchel took the reins of the Three Lions in January 2025, Mainoo has yet to be called up to a single squad. He now has zero margin for error: he must either quickly overturn his lack of minutes at United or secure an immediate transfer, with Napoli currently emerging as his most likely destination.
Another Red Devil in a similar boat is Joshua Zirkzee. The forward has featured in 13 matches across the Premier League and League Cup this season but has started only three times. At this rate, punching his ticket to the World Cup with the Netherlands looks incredibly tough, causing rumors of a move to Roma to rapidly pick up steam.
Contrasting Fortunes for Two of Messi's Argentina Teammates
Also on the list of players sweating over their World Cup futures are two young Argentine starlets: Claudio Echeverri and Franco Mastantuono. Both received their first senior national team call-ups this year (though Echeverri has yet to make his debut), but a lack of club minutes in recent months has stalled their momentum.
Echeverri has found opportunities hard to come by at Bayer Leverkusen, and reports suggest he will soon leave the Bundesliga. His parent club, Manchester City, plans to redirect his loan to Girona to guarantee him regular playing time, boosting his chances of cracking Argentina’s 26-man World Cup squad to play alongside Lionel Messi.
Mastantuono's situation, however, is entirely different. While he is also struggling for consistent minutes at Real Madrid, the Spanish giants are digging their heels in and refusing to let the young winger leave during the winter window. Franco is left with only one option: convince Xavi Alonso to give him a chance on the pitch and use his performances to impress Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni.
