Marc-Andre ter Stegen back as Barcelona captain after signing La Liga medical authorisation
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Barcelona's German goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen was stripped of the club captaincy on Thursday.
PHOTO: AFP
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BARCELONA – Barcelona have reinstated Marc-Andre ter Stegen as first-team captain, after announcing on Aug 8 that the goalkeeper has authorised the club to send his medical report to La Liga.
The announcement comes after the German hit back at suggestions he is to blame for Barcelona’s inability to register new players, insisting that his back surgery and recovery timeline were fully approved by the club.
His three-month rehabilitation created an unexpected headache for Barcelona, who had asked him to sign a long-term medical leave that would allow them to clear 80 per cent of his wages until mid-season and comply with La Liga’s Financial Fair Play rules, thereby allowing them to register new players.
But ter Stegen’s announcement on social media that he would be sidelined for only three months irked the club management, as La Liga rules require a player to remain out of action for at least four months to be considered a long-term injury.
The disagreement led to the 33-year-old being stripped of the club’s captaincy on Aug 7.
“The club announces that the player Marc-Andre ter Stegen has signed the authorisation necessary for the club to send La Liga the medical report relating to his surgery,” Barcelona said in a statement.
“The disciplinary case has been closed and the player is captain of the first team once again with immediate effect.”
Ter Stegen was adamant that club officials had always been kept in the loop about his treatment and rehabilitation.
“The decision to undergo surgery was made after consultation with medical professionals and fully approved by the club,” he said earlier on Aug 8 in a statement on Instagram.
“Moreover, I announced publicly the minimum recovery timing that I shall need after that, which had been communicated to me by most reputed experts and always in coordination with the club.
“I am fully willing to collaborate with the club’s management to resolve this matter and to provide the requested authorisation.”
Barca signed 24-year-old goalkeeper Joan Garcia from local rivals Espanyol in June, while Marcus Rashford was signed on loan from Manchester United.
However, both players are yet to be registered with the new La Liga season kicking off on Aug 15.
Despite ter Stegen signing the authorisation, La Liga’s medical committee must still rule on his case, with their estimated recovery time for the goalkeeper determining whether Barcelona can use part of his salary to register new signings.
The controversy highlights Barcelona’s financial struggles as they battle to register new signings once again.
Last season, the club approached Spain’s National Sports Council to allow them to field Dani Olmo and Pau Victor until the end of the season, after La Liga said they did not have the capacity to register the two players based on their accounts.
Ter Stegen added that his new surgery should not interfere with the “registration of other colleagues whom I greatly respect and look forward to share locker room with for many seasons”. REUTERS, AFP
