Ter Stegen-Barcelona Rift Deepens Over Medical Dispute and Player Registration

When the conflict between Marc-André ter Stegen and FC Barcelona surfaced, it quickly turned into a serious internal issue. The German goalkeeper recently underwent a second back surgery and announced he would be sidelined for three months. However, Barcelona’s medical team believes the recovery could take longer. The club hoped to use this opportunity to register new goalkeeper Joan Garcia by freeing up salary space under La Liga’s injury rules.

But Ter Stegen has refused to authorize the release of his medical report to La Liga’s Medical Commission, a step necessary for the club to make use of that rule. This has deeply angered President Joan Laporta, who believes the captain is acting in bad faith to block the club’s plans. Initially open to discussions, Barcelona has now cut off all communication with Ter Stegen. The legal team is exploring whether he is contractually allowed to deny the authorization and is also preparing for possible disciplinary action.