Easing tensions in the Barça conflict:
Barcelona and Ter Stegen Reach Agreement on Medical Data Sharing
In a significant turn of events, Marc-André ter Stegen and FC Barcelona have resolved their dispute, leading to the goalkeeper being restored as club captain after he agreed to authorize the sharing of his medical report with LaLiga [1].
The resolution comes after a tense episode in which Ter Stegen, recovering from back surgery, refused to allow Barcelona to send his medical data to LaLiga, prompting the club to strip him temporarily of the captaincy and his jersey number [1][4].
With this agreement, Barcelona can potentially free up at least 50% of Ter Stegen's salary under LaLiga’s long-term injury rule, which applies if a player is sidelined for more than four months and helps the club with registration and financial fair play constraints [1][2]. If Ter Stegen's recovery extends beyond four months, Barcelona could use this to register other players, such as Joan García or Marcus Rashford, as injury replacements [1][2].
Ter Stegen, who has three years remaining on his contract, intends to compete for the starting goalkeeper position upon his return, facing competition from Joan García and new signing Wojciech Szczesny [2]. His ambition also includes being Germany's first-choice goalkeeper at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, indicating his motivation to maintain top form and status [2].
The resolution removes a key point of tension, helping stabilize squad management and clarify Ter Stegen’s standing at Barcelona [1][2][4]. It is important to note that Barcelona signed Joan García from Espanyol in the summer for around €25 million [3]. García cannot play until he is registered, and the club no longer appears to be planning to use Ter Stegen as their starting goalkeeper.
In a public statement, Ter Stegen spoke out for the first time in two weeks, stating that he feels misrepresented and that some things said about him are unfounded [5]. This resolution marks a step towards mending the relationship between Ter Stegen and FC Barcelona.
References:
- Barcelona and Ter Stegen reach agreement over medical data
- Marc-André ter Stegen: Barcelona captaincy row 'resolved' as goalkeeper agrees to share medical data
- Barcelona sign Joan Garcia from Espanyol for €25m
- Ter Stegen to lose captaincy after refusing to share injury report with La Liga
- Ter Stegen speaks out for first time in two weeks
In light of the agreement, Ter Stegen's medical data can now be shared with European-leagues like LaLiga. With this resolution, there might be an opportunity for FC Barcelona to use Ter Stegen's participation in sports like football to facilitate financial fair play, potentially freeing up a portion of his salary.
