Is Ter Stegen Back as Barcelona Captain After Medical Dispute?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Marc-André ter Stegen reinstated as captain of Barcelona.
- Dispute over medical reports highlighted club-player communication issues.
- Ter Stegen underwent back surgery, sidelining him for three months.
- Classification of injury critical for salary management under Financial Fair Play.
- La Liga's Medical Committee to review Ter Stegen's recovery status.
New Delhi, Aug 9 (NationPress) Barcelona has reinstated Marc-André ter Stegen as the first-team captain, concluding a brief yet highly publicized dispute over the goalkeeper’s medical circumstances and their repercussions for the club's capacity to register new players.
This decision follows the German’s signing of the authorization that allows Barcelona to submit his medical report to La Liga.
“The Club announces that player Marc-André ter Stegen has signed the authorization necessary for the Club to send La Liga the medical report regarding his surgery,” confirmed Barcelona in a statement on Friday. “The disciplinary case has been resolved, and the player is once again the captain of the first team effective immediately.”
The controversy initiated when Ter Stegen underwent back surgery and publicly declared he would be out for three months. While this matched the prognosis provided by his medical team, it conflicted with Barcelona’s strategy to classify him as a long-term injury—a designation that mandates at least four months on the sidelines under La Liga regulations.
This categorization would have enabled the club to save 80 percent of his wages until mid-season and create room to register new players according to Financial Fair Play regulations.
Ter Stegen’s post reportedly annoyed club management, resulting in him being stripped of the captaincy on Thursday. However, the 33-year-old maintained that Barcelona had been fully briefed from the very beginning.
“The decision to undergo surgery was made after consulting medical professionals and was fully approved by the club,” he stated on Instagram earlier on Friday. “Moreover, I publicly announced the minimum recovery timeline I would need, as communicated by top experts and always in coordination with the club.”
Even with the paperwork now submitted to La Liga, the situation is not entirely settled. The league’s Medical Committee will evaluate Ter Stegen’s case, and their official recovery estimate will dictate whether Barcelona can reduce part of his salary to create space for new signings.