Easing of Barça's Contention:
Barcelona and goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen have reached an agreement, allowing the club to register new signing Joan García under the financial fair play rules. This settlement hinges on La Liga's Medical Committee validating Ter Stegen's injury as a long-term one, meaning his absence will exceed four months due to a back operation.
Ter Stegen, who has been under pressure ahead of the World Cup next year, initially refused to authorize the club to submit his full medical records to La Liga. This refusal led to conflicts and a temporary stripping of the captaincy due to an open disciplinary case.
However, after negotiations and clarifications, La Liga accepted Ter Stegen’s medical condition as meeting the long-term injury criteria. This approval allows Barcelona to register García, who joined the club from Espanyol Barcelona in the summer for around 25 million euros, without breaching the wage cap.
Despite the settlement, Ter Stegen's future at Barça remains uncertain. He is under contract for three more years and aims to return as the starting goalkeeper, competing with García and new signing Wojciech Szczesny. Barcelona had previously attempted to terminate Ter Stegen's contract, but faced obstacles regarding "dead money" implications for financial fair play.
With Ter Stegen's registration status remaining active, his long recovery and the new goalkeeper signings imply significant impact on the squad's goalkeeping roles for the coming season. Ter Stegen publicly spoke out for the first time in two weeks, defending himself on Instagram, and the disciplinary proceedings against him have been dropped.
In a positive turn of events, Ter Stegen is once again the captain of FC Barcelona, and there appears to be a potential "ceasefire" in the situation, beneficial to all parties.
Ter Stegen's injury, recognized as long-term by La Liga, provides Barcelona with the opportunity to register the new signing, Joan García, within the financial fair play rules, without compromising the club's wage cap. Despite Ter Stegen's continued recovery and new goalkeeper signings, his determination to regain his starting spot at Barcelona, competing with García and Wojciech Szczesny, highlights European leagues'the upcoming season's significant changes in the squad's goalkeeping roles.
