The relationship between FC Barcelona and club captain Marc-André ter Stegen appears to have completely collapsed, with the club reportedly opening a disciplinary case against the goalkeeper after he refused to cooperate with a plan to solve their financial registration issues.
According to a report from Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Ter Stegen has refused to grant the club permission to send his medical report to the La Liga authorities following his recent back surgery. This is being viewed as a direct act of defiance against the club’s management.
By withholding his medical report, Ter Stegen has successfully blocked Barcelona’s attempt to use a special La Liga rule. This regulation allows clubs to free up 80% of a long-term injured player’s salary space to register new signings, but it can only be activated if the player is medically confirmed to be out for a minimum of four months.
This salary space was seen as crucial for the club to be able to register their new number one goalkeeper, Joan García, who is currently unable to play in La Liga due to Barcelona’s financial constraints. The dispute stems from the recovery timeline; the player’s camp estimated a three-month recovery, one month short of the threshold needed by the club.
In a stunning and aggressive response to their captain’s actions, the Barcelona board has now opened a formal disciplinary case against him. This escalates the situation from a simple transfer dispute to a full-blown internal war between the player and the club.
The future for Marc-André ter Stegen at Barcelona now looks completely untenable. What began with the club trying to push him towards an exit has devolved into a bitter and public conflict. With legal action now on the table, a swift and messy departure for the long-serving goalkeeper seems inevitable.