Barcelona goalkeeper, Marc-André ter Stegen, speaks on injury doubts and the loss of captaincy
Barcelona has made a significant change in their leadership structure as goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen is no longer the club's captain. The decision comes amidst an escalating conflict between the player and the club, rooted in disciplinary and contractual disputes.
Ter Stegen's disagreement with the club began when coach Hans Flick opted to start other goalkeepers, such as Tech Chesn and Joan Garcia, towards the end of the previous season. Ter Stegen, who desired to remain the main goalkeeper, voiced his opposition to this decision.
The conflict deepened when Barcelona signed goalkeeper Joan Garcia without informing Ter Stegen, a move that caused further outrage. A significant incident occurred when Ter Stegen refused to sign a medical report related to his surgery, which was essential for Barcelona to register new players with La Liga and manage their salary cap requirements.
This refusal to cooperate with club procedures led Barcelona to take the unusual step of stripping Ter Stegen of the captaincy, marking an unprecedented disciplinary action against a key player. Ter Stegen's stance was further highlighted when he appeared without a number on La Liga's official roster for the 2025-26 season.
Despite the ongoing conflict, it is important to note that Ter Stegen's decision to undergo surgery was based on professional medical advice and had the club's full backing. Barcelona have since signed goalkeeper Joan Garcia from Espanyol and secured the loan signing of England forward Marcus Rashford from Manchester United.
Ter Stegen, who has won six La Liga titles, five Copa del Rey trophies, and the UEFA Champions League with FC Barcelona, has expressed his loyalty to the club and called for a constructive resolution to the situation. He is currently expected to be out of action for three months and has communicated this recovery timing to the club, which could potentially affect Barcelona's ability to register new players.
In Ter Stegen's absence, Ronald Araujo will assume the captaincy duties. Ter Stegen remains committed to returning to the pitch as soon as possible and has stated that all of Barcelona's signings and contract renewals were completed prior to his surgery. He is willing to collaborate with the Club's management to resolve the matter and provide the requested authorization.
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In the midst of this health-related and contractual dispute, Ter Stegen's loyalty to Barcelona remains unwavering as he called for a constructive resolution, expressing his desire to return to the pitch post his three-month recovery, which coincides with Barcelona's sports calendar and may influence their football team's player registration processes.
