Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen will not travel to Japan and South Korea for the club’s preseason tour. He has decided to undergo back surgery, which is expected to keep him out for around three months.
The club is said to be unhappy with his decision, as the pain has reportedly bothered him since the June international break. There were reports that Barcelona planned to use the emergency injury rule to register other players using a portion of ter Stegen’s salary. This could have helped them include new signing Joan Garcia, who is seen as a contender for the number one spot.
Dr. Guillermo Ripoll, a well-known surgeon, told Cadena SER that it would be hard for Barcelona or ter Stegen to get a soft medical report from any doctor. He stressed that any doctor reviewing this case would give an honest opinion, knowing that their words could affect more than just Barcelona.
Dr. Ripoll also raised questions about how much medical information should be kept private when it affects the wider football world. He said La Liga would likely review all the documents and examine the player, but they may not be able to dig too deeply.
He added that the three-month recovery time seemed short to him. According to Ripoll, someone with ter Stegen’s medical history, including past knee surgeries, would normally need closer to four months to recover. He questioned why the time frame was so exact, suggesting there might be other reasons behind it.
While Barcelona is unhappy with ter Stegen, reports say the feeling is mutual. The club not only signed a replacement but also informed him that he would be the third-choice keeper. Stories questioning his attitude and professionalism were also leaked to the media, and some believe his public statement is a reply to those actions.