According to Mundo Deportivo (Spain), the German goalkeeper refused to allow Barca to submit his injury report to the La Liga Medical Council, the body responsible for assessing the severity of injuries. This action prevents the club from using 80% of his salary to meet "fair play" financial regulations for registering new players.

In response, the Catalan club is considering disciplinary action, potentially leading to internal penalties if Ter Stegen is deemed to have harmed the club's interests.

Goalkeeper Ter Stegen makes a save during Barca's 1-2 loss to Monaco at Louis II Stadium, Monaco in the opening match of the Champions League group stage on 19/9/2024. Photo: *AFP*

When the 33-year-old Ter Stegen required back surgery in late July, Barca saw it as a financial lifeline. The Camp Nou club anticipated his 4-5 month absence would qualify as a long-term injury under La Liga rules.

League salary cap regulations allow a club with a long-term injured player to use 80% of that player's salary to register a new signing, even if the club is exceeding the league-imposed salary limit. In Barca's case, this would allow them to register new goalkeeper Joan Garcia, acquired from Espanyol for nearly 29 million USD in June.

Without Ter Stegen's consent, a prerequisite for submitting the report, the situation is at an impasse. A player's medical data is private, requiring his approval. However, Barca emphasizes that the German goalkeeper's contract includes obligations and regulations. No Barca player has ever refused to provide medical data in a similar situation.

Previously, long-term injuries (over 4 months) to Christensen and Ronald Araujo, confirmed by La Liga doctors, allowed the club to successfully register Dani Olmo and Inigo Martinez.

The relationship between Ter Stegen and Barca has been strained in recent months. Before his surgery, Ter Stegen announced on social media a recovery time of "66 days" (about two months). According to The Athletic, this not only surprised Barca but also contradicted the club's prognosis. Some Barca officials proposed stripping Ter Stegen of his captaincy, citing a lack of responsibility.

Following Ter Stegen's surgery on 29/7, Barca released a statement referring to it as "re-surgery," emphasizing that the goalkeeper had re-injured the back area previously operated on in 2023. Unlike the goalkeeper, the club offered no specific timeframe for his return.

Dr. Pedro Luis Ripoll, former member of the La Liga Medical Council and a renowned injury specialist, commented on Cadena SER radio (Spain) last week: "I believe my colleagues at La Liga will make a decision based on their professional criteria. What if a player says his injury will take three weeks to recover, but then things get complicated and it takes six weeks?".

"Three months seems a bit short," Dr. Ripoll opined on Ter Stegen's case. "I can't say for sure whether it's three or four months, but in theory, it should be closer to four months."

El Pais (Spain) reported that after signing Joan Garcia, Barca wanted to offload Ter Stegen, suggesting the club's actions were "pressuring" the German goalkeeper, potentially fueling his anger and resistance. With five surgeries in the past five years, Barca is concerned about the 33-year-old's fitness, while he remains determined to fulfill his contract until 2028 and aims for the 2026 World Cup.

Compiled by Ha Phuong