Marc-Andre ter Stegen was one of the great stories of the Champions League last season.
Not only was he a winner in his first season in the competition but he also eliminated his hero Manuel Neuer in the semifinal and won the historic trophy in his nation's capital -- storybook stuff.
Not only is the young German a fine keeper, he's also a terrific footballer and, perhaps, the equal of Neuer, Van Der Sar and Valdes, all of whom were ultra-comfortable in the "sweeper" role.
Ter Stegen is also outspoken.
Without perceptibly damaging team harmony, he regularly stated in interviews and in post-match mixed zones that he wanted to be Barcelona's first-choice in all three competitions.
Having played in the European Under-21 Championship this summer, he was due an extended holiday, as was his fellow goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, who played in and won the Copa America.
Ahead of a long season, adequate physical and mental rest is imperative for elite footballers but, nevertheless, Ter Stegen reported back early for pre-season training, voluntarily discarding a good chunk of his summer break.
You don't need to be a detective to deduce that the 23-year-old fancied doing what Diego Lopez did to Casillas following the 2013 Confederations Cup.
Ready first, fit and firing on all cylinders, having not played summer football, Lopez was chosen for preseason and early competitive matches by then-Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti ahead of Casillas, who took his proper holidays having competed in Brazil.
It was a wholly defensible decision by the Italian coach, who subsequently played Casillas in cup competitions and Lopez in La Liga.
It's clear that Barcelona's young German wanted to put that choice to Luis Enrique, who already had a quandary in that simply deciding to maintain the status quo was going to be a very big call.
Ter Stegen's message was "I'm keen, I'm back, I'm match sharp -- let me start in the Spanish and UEFA Super Cups and in La Liga."
It's a guess, but Bravo, having performed exceptionally while winning La Liga last season, must have felt deliberately undermined.
Two points stand out concerning Luis Enrique's dilemma.
First, you have to be loyal to those who have performed for you.
Bravo was an absolute mainstay of Barca's league win and it would have sent a very tough message to those around him were he dropped having won four major trophies for club and country between August 2014 and July 2015.
Second, while it has not been Ter Stegen's fault, the club's preseason hasn't looked too special.
Shorn of Lionel Messi, Neymar, Dani Alves and Javier Mascherano, the play has been fine, but the same cannot be said for the results and defending.
Right now you'd bet that Luis Enrique is working out how to break it to Ter Stegen that his voluntary early return hasn't worked sufficiently in his favour.
Perhaps there will be more rotation; perhaps Ter Stegen might get the Copa del Rey this season.
However, barring injury, it's looking like "as you were" for Barcelona's two excellent keepers.
It truly is tough at the top.
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