FC Barcelona: Medical statement on Ter Stegen's operation

The goalkeeper and captain of the first team of Fútbol Club Barcelona 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰 𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗲𝗻 has undergone successful re-intervention for his lumbar problems by Dr. Amélie Léglise, under the supervision of the Club's Medical Services, at the Sports Clinic Bordeaux Merignac. He is out and his progress will determine his availability.

Tense relationship between Ter Stegen and Barça

The relationship between Marc-André ter Stegen and FC Barcelona is going through a very delicate moment. This Tuesday, the 33-year-old goalkeeper traveled to France to treat his back discomfort at the Sports Clinic Bordeaux Merignac in Bordeaux.

Meanwhile, his future remains up in the air, knowing that he has been ruled out by Hansi Flick and with the Azulgrana board very upset after the statement issued by the goalkeeper, anticipating a recovery time of three months without consulting with the club's doctors.

How long will Ter Stegen be out?

In 2023, the goalkeeper underwent a similar surgical intervention, treated by the same medical team. Then he was out for 86 days, from mid-November to the second week of February 2024. In total, he missed 17 games, a couple of them in the Champions League and the two in the Spanish Super Cup.

He was also unable to play the first three rounds of the Copa del Rey or 10 league games, with Iñaki Peña as his replacement. The scenario was repeated last season, but then his time off was much longer.

Marc-André suffered a complete tear of the patellar tendon in his right knee during a match against Villarreal at the end of September 2024 and was only able to return at the end of April this year, adding a total of 214 days in the infirmary.

Considering the background of his previous lumbar injury, 'Matts' anticipated Barça by anticipating that his return to action would take place within three months, that is, at the end of October. The club, however, is more conservative and points to a recovery time of 4 months or more.

The Barça statement does not specify Ter Stegen's recovery time

As the captain did not require any club representative to accompany him to Bordeaux during the operation and, in order not to further strain the rope with a medical report that contradicts the recovery time estimated by the goalkeeper, Barcelona has limited itself to announcing that "the evolution will determine the availability" of the '1' after making his operation official.

"He is out and his progress will determine his availability"

For the Azulgrana team, his prolonged absence partially resolved the mess with Ter Stegen's future. A recovery for four months or more was enough to save 80% of the German's salary, with the extra possibility of receiving compensation from FIFA for the injury.