Temporary truce acknowledged between opposing factions in the public spotlight
Barcelona's Goalkeeper Saga Takes a Turn: Ter Stegen Agrees to Share Medical Data
After two weeks of silence, FC Barcelona's goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen has spoken out publicly, marking a significant development in the ongoing dispute between the player and the club. The resolution of this dispute could pave the way for the registration of Joan García, who is already under contract with FC Barcelona.
The key implication of Ter Stegen passing his medical data to FC Barcelona's league (La Liga) concerns the club's ability to register new players, specifically goalkeeper Joan García. Initially, Ter Stegen refused to consent to sharing his medical records, blocking Barcelona from classifying his injury as a long-term absence, which is essential for Spanish league financial fair play rules that allow the club to exclude a portion of his salary from the wage cap.
With Ter Stegen agreeing to allow FC Barcelona to pass on his medical data, La Liga's Medical Committee can now officially rule on whether his injury meets the long-term injury criteria. If it does, Barcelona will be able to offload most of Ter Stegen's salary from their wage bill, officially register Joan García, and make him available to play in La Liga’s opening match of the 2025–26 season.
This resolution effectively paves the way for Joan García's registration and relieves some of the club’s financial constraints. However, Barcelona still faces challenges registering other players due to salary cap constraints, but Ter Stegen’s medical data release was a critical step for partial squad registration.
The situation strained relations between Ter Stegen and the club, even resulting in disciplinary proceedings and temporarily stripping Ter Stegen of captaincy. FC Barcelona has since dropped the disciplinary proceedings against Ter Stegen. Ter Stegen has been reinstated as team captain by the club, and he has expressed feeling misrepresented in an extensive Instagram statement.
The agreement by Ter Stegen to pass on his medical data could have far-reaching consequences for Barcelona’s compliance with salary cap rules, player registration, squad planning, and internal relations within the club. The league's decision about Ter Stegen's health status could potentially have implications for the registration of Joan García.
Meanwhile, German coach Hansi Flick only has Inaki Peña as the goalkeeper with playing permission. If Ter Stegen's injury is deemed long-term, FC Barcelona could pay a sum equivalent to part of Ter Stegen's salary for García, without violating Spain's financial fair play rules, according to Spanish sports newspaper "Sport".
The resolution of the dispute has been positively assessed by Spanish sports media, with "Mundo Deportivo" describing it as a "truce for the benefit of all." The Spanish sports newspaper "Marca" wrote about the potential consequences of Ter Stegen's agreement. Ter Stegen still feels a deep affection for the club, the city, and the fans, despite the recent strains in their relationship.
The first league game for FC Barcelona is scheduled for August 16 against Mallorca. With the registration of Joan García, Barcelona may have found a solution to their goalkeeping crisis, providing a boost to their chances in the upcoming season.
- The release of Marc-André ter Stegen's medical data to La Liga's Medical Committee could determine the registration of Joan García, as it potentially labels ter Stegen's injury as long-term, which Barcelona needs for financial fair play compliance.
- With the agreement to share his medical data, Ter Stegen's situation may signal a resolution to Barcelona's search for a new goalkeeper, as the league's decision could pave the way for the registration of Joan García and address the goalkeeping crisis before the season opener against Mallorca.
