FC Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen will soon undergo surgery to treat a recurring back injury. In his statement, Ter Stegen said he expects to be out for around three months. However, Barcelona’s medical team believes he may need four to five months to fully recover. This gap in timelines has now created both squad and salary cap problems for the club.
Barcelona’s Plans Disrupted by Timeline Discrepancy
La Liga rules allow clubs to remove a player’s salary from their wage bill if the injury lasts at least four months. This lets the club use 80% of that salary to register a replacement. Since Ter Stegen mentioned only a three-month absence, Barcelona can’t benefit from the rule.
Internal sources claim that the goalkeeper’s injury is more severe. Doctors worry about a longer recovery due to the recurrence of the problem and a previous operation on the same area. If the club could confirm a four-month absence, they would have had the financial space to register a new player, such as Joan Garcia or even Marcus Rashford.
Tensions Rise Between Ter Stegen and the Club
Reports suggest that Barcelona have looked into transferring Ter Stegen. But the German star has no intention of leaving. He insists on staying and returning as the club’s number one when fit. His public announcement of a shorter recovery has added fuel to an already tense situation.
Barcelona’s management now finds itself in a tough spot. They can’t register new players to replace him unless the injury timeline is officially extended.
Goalkeeping Crisis Ahead of Season Opener
With Ter Stegen out and salary cap limits blocking new signings, Barcelona have just one goalkeeper—Inaki Peña—eligible to play in the season opener on August 16 against Mallorca.
The club had considered sending Peña out on loan. But head coach Hansi Flick quickly shut down those plans. He included Peña in the pre-season Asia tour and will now rely on him as the temporary starter.
At the moment, neither Wojciech Szczesny nor Joan Garcia can join the squad because of wage restrictions. Unless the club can adjust Ter Stegen’s recovery timeline, Barcelona will face serious challenges at the start of the La Liga season.
Stay tuned for all the latest Sports News, follow SportsNewsTime on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram