Breaking: Barcelona has removed Marc-André ter Stegen as captain amid a dispute over his medical information and its potential impact on the club’s ability to register new players.The decision follows disciplinary proceedings initiated by the Spanish football giant.
The 33-year-old German goalkeeper underwent back surgery on July 27th, 2024, at the Quirónsalud hospital in Barcelona, according to a club statement. He last played in a Germany national team match in June 2024.
The conflict stems from ter Stegen’s refusal to authorize Barcelona to share details of his recovery timeline with La Liga.La Liga regulations allow clubs to exceed their salary cap if a player is ruled out for at least four months due to a long-term injury, creating financial leeway to sign reinforcements. Barcelona is currently navigating financial constraints despite winning the 2023-2024 La Liga title.
Ter Stegen publicly announced on August 23rd, 2024, via his X (formerly Twitter) account, that his expected recovery period is approximately three months. This timeframe is critical, as it falls short of the four-month threshold required by La Liga to utilize the injury exception.
Barcelona has recently added Joan García, a 26-year-old goalkeeper from Espanyol, and Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford, 26, on a season-long loan, to their squad. The club reportedly paid a €5 million transfer fee for García.
In an official statement released on August 24th, 2024, Barcelona confirmed the temporary removal of ter Stegen’s captaincy “following the disciplinary proceedings.” The club stated the decision was made “by mutual agreement with the sporting direction and the coaching staff, led by manager Xavi Hernández.”
Ronald Araujo, the 25-year-old Uruguayan center-back, will assume the captain’s duties during ter Stegen’s suspension from the role. Sergi Roberto, 32, remains the second vice-captain.
Since joining Barcelona from borussia Mönchengladbach in 2014 for a reported €12 million, ter Stegen has become a cornerstone of the team, making over 400 appearances. He has secured numerous accolades with the club, including a Champions League title in 2015 and six La liga championships (2014-15, 2015-16, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2022-23, and 2023-24). He also won the Copa del Rey in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018, and the spanish Super Cup in 2016, 2018, and 2023.
