Ter Stegen returns to the Barça squad 215 days later: the captain returns for the final against Madrid

The German goalkeeper, leader of the culé dressing room and captain under Hansi Flick, will be on the bench in the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid.

FC Barcelona has received great news on the eve of one of the most important matches of the season: Marc-André ter Stegen, current captain of the team led by Hansi Flick, returns to an official call-up 215 days after suffering a serious injury in LaLiga.

The German goalkeeper suffered a complete tear of the patellar tendon in his right knee on September 22, 2024, during a league match against Villarreal CF. The injury occurred after a bad landing when jumping to catch an aerial ball, leaving Barça without their reference under the posts for more than seven months.

An injury that marked his season... and the start of the Flick cycle

That matchday 6 not only marked a turning point for the team, but also the start of Hansi Flick's cycle at the helm of the blaugrana bench. Ter Stegen, already one of the leaders of the dressing room, assumed the captaincy this season, but could not exercise his role on the field until now.

During his prolonged absence, Iñaki Peña took responsibility under the posts although Wojciech Szczęsny ended up taking over, but the return of the captain, even if he is not a starter at the moment, represents a moral, symbolic and competitive boost for a squad that is still fighting for titles.

Captain on the bench... but present in the final

Although he will not be in the starting eleven, Ter Stegen will be on the bench this Saturday at La Cartuja, in the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid, a scenario of maximum demand where his mere presence can make a difference. The German has been registered by Flick as part of the expedition, recognizing his weight inside and outside the dressing room.

A return that transcends the sporting aspect

Beyond the competitive aspect, the return of the culé captain excites the Barcelona fans. Ter Stegen is one of the pillars of the project and an absolute reference in the group. His return represents the overcoming of one of the most complex injuries for a goalkeeper, with work, discipline and a winning mentality.

In addition, his return comes at a key moment: with Barça fighting for titles and with the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, the German national team goalkeeper aims to be a protagonist in the final stretch of the season as in 2025/226.

Barça adds a leader for the final sprint

With a busy schedule and several fronts open, recovering the captain is great news for Flick and his coaching staff. In the short term, Ter Stegen will add from the bench, but everything points to the fact that he could soon regain his starting position and once again make a difference under the three posts.