FC Barcelona’s Legal Strategies Regarding Ter Stegen
FC Barcelona is exploring a range of legal strategies in light of goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen’s refusal to authorize the sharing of his medical details with LaLiga, according to information obtained by ESPN. The 33-year-old German player had lower back surgery on July 29, and the LaLiga medical committee needs to evaluate the club’s injury report to determine whether Ter Stegen qualifies for its emergency injury provisions.
Potential Financial Implications
If the committee approves, Barcelona could potentially free up more than 50% of Ter Stegen’s salary for player registration, relevant under LaLiga rules for athletes sidelined longer than four months. However, obtaining the player’s consent is essential for the club to disclose any medical data, complicating the situation for the management.
Management’s Response
Barcelona’s sporting director, Deco, planned to approach Ter Stegen regarding this matter upon the team’s return from its tour of Asia on Tuesday. Nevertheless, Deco was caught off guard when he received a formal notice from Ter Stegen, declaring his unwillingness to sign the necessary documentation.
Reports from Spanish media indicate that Barcelona has initiated disciplinary proceedings against Ter Stegen, although ESPN’s sources have not verified this yet.
Nonetheless, the club is contemplating various measures, including the possibility of imposing a fine on the player. ESPN has reached out to representatives of Ter Stegen for their input on the issue.
Impact on Team Dynamics
Ter Stegen’s decision to go under the knife presents a significant challenge for Barcelona, particularly as the club had considered allowing him to leave during the recent summer transfer window. They’ve since signed Joan García from Espanyol to assume the role of primary goalkeeper and have chosen to extend the contract of veteran Wojciech Szczesny.
The goalkeeper is determined to reclaim his starting position at Barcelona and is also eyeing a spot as Germany’s first-choice goalkeeper for the upcoming 2026 World Cup. While Barcelona anticipates that Ter Stegen will be out for a minimum of four months, the player himself has expressed optimism about returning to play within three months.
Future Considerations
Should his recovery extend beyond the expected four months, Barcelona might opt to terminate his contract and register García instead. Barcelona President Joan Laporta has acknowledged that leveraging LaLiga’s emergency injury rule for Ter Stegen’s case represents the most straightforward method for registering summer acquisitions like García and Marcus Rashford. However, Laporta confirmed that the club is actively investigating other alternatives as well.
With just 11 days remaining before their LaLiga title defense kicks off against Mallorca, Barcelona is under pressure to finalize the registration of five players.
