Earlier in the month, it was reported that Marc-Andre ter Stegen apparent surgery was going to keep him out of action for four months. This means that Barcelona would be able to utilize 80% of his salary to register other players, including new signing Joan Garcia, as per La Liga rules.
Today, Marc-Andre ter Stegen has announced that he will undergo surgery and will be out for three months.
Big blow for Barcelona
However, Marc-Andre Ter Stegen three-month absence does not bode well for Barcelona for one key reason. Initially, it was reported that the 33-year-old shot-stopper could be out for four months if he underwent surgery. And, Barcelona had plans to take advantage of the situation to register new signing Joan Garcia.
As per the La Liga regulations, a club can access 80% of an injured player’s wages to register replacements only if the player is ruled out for at least four months. Since Marc-Andre Ter Stegen has mentioned a three-month recovery window, Barcelona do not qualify to trigger the emergency salary mechanism.
This comes as a major setback for the Catalan club, who are working within very tight salary limits this summer and were hoping to use Marc-Andre Ter Stegen long-term injury to facilitate squad registration. Joan Garcia is expected to be Barça’s starting goalkeeper this season; however, the current situation complicates the registration process.
Garcia’s registration might be postponed or require alternative solutions, such as a short-term loan or a special permit, unless the club can achieve the necessary financial flexibility through player transfers, wage adjustments, or other strategies. Meanwhile, it will be worth watching how Ter Stegen’s upcoming surgery affects his recovery timeline, especially since he could be out for at least four months. Notably, the captain has made his thoughts public about the situation even before going under the knife, which adds another layer of complexity regarding his fitness for the start of the season and the club’s plans without him on the field.
