Ter Stegen’s Surgery Leaves Barcelona in a Tough Spot

Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen has said he’ll be having back surgery and will be out for about three months.

At first glance, his message seemed quite normal. But the timing and honesty of his announcement may have caused problems for the club’s financial plans.

Club’s Transfer Plans in Trouble

Ter Stegen’s decision to say how long he’ll be out has reportedly upset some of the top people at Barcelona.

The club, already spending more than La Liga allows, had hoped to take Ter Stegen off their squad list under the long-term injury rule. This would have freed up a large part of his wages—said to be around 80%—so they could register new signings Marcus Rashford and Joan Garcia.

But because Ter Stegen has made it public that he’ll only be out for three months, that option may no longer be allowed. The injury rule usually applies to players who are out for longer periods.

Frustration Behind the Scenes

People inside the club are said to be frustrated. They had been quietly working to find ways around their money troubles. Now, with Rashford’s big €14 million wage and Garcia also joining, things have got even more difficult.

Tension and Doubts About the Future

This news comes at a tricky time for Ter Stegen. There’s already talk that new coach Hansi Flick might not see him as the automatic first choice anymore—especially with Garcia arriving and Szczęsny recently renewing his contract.

Some say the relationship between Ter Stegen and Flick isn’t great, and this could be the start of a bigger change in the goalkeeper position at the club.

Even though Ter Stegen sounds positive in his message to the fans, his place at Barcelona might not be as secure as it once was.