War rages: Ter Stagen stripped of captaincy

Like a bolt from the blue, a breakdown has occurred between Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Barcelona. The brilliant goalkeeper missed most of last season due to injury, and it’s a big question how much – or even if – he will play in this one. Because of back surgery, he will certainly have to miss several months, while strained relations with the club’s management threaten to keep the German off the pitch entirely, despite having a contract until July 2028. Things heated up toward the end of last season, when the experienced shot-stopper refused, as captain, to deliver the traditional speech to the fans after the final match of the La Liga campaign. Spanish media wrote that he made this choice because he was offended by the lack of significant playing time after his recovery in the decisive stretch of the season, when the title race – ultimately won by Barcelona against Real Madrid – was on the line.

Ter Stegen prevents Barca to register a new keeper

This bothered club president Joan Laporta, as well as coach Hansi Flick. In the meantime, the situation worsened when Barcelona signed the younger Joan García from Espanyol for 25 million euros, a goalkeeper projected to be the future first choice – and possibly already in the upcoming season. This further angered Ter Stegen, who then refused to sign the medical report on his injury, which Barcelona needs to submit to La Liga’s Medical Commission in order to get approval for registering new signings.

According to league regulations, the salary of a seriously injured player – one expected to be out for at least four months – is largely (80%) excluded from the financial fair play calculations. In this case, it would free up significant budget space for Barça and allow them to register García. Camp Nou’s hierarchy counted on Ter Stegen’s signature, especially since they managed to register Dani Olmo and Inigo Martínez last season in a similar manner (thanks to medical report signatures from Andreas Christensen and Ronald Araujo). However, the former Borussia Monchengladbach goalkeeper insists he will return to the pitch in no more than three months and therefore refused to comply with the club’s request. Disappointed by his response, Barcelona’s management has initiated disciplinary proceedings against the German, and Catalan outlet Mundo Deportivo reports that a decision has been made to strip the 33-year-old goalkeeper of the captain’s armband. The new captain, at least temporarily, will be Ronald Araujo.

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The Uruguayan will lead his teammates against Como on Sunday in the Joan Gamper Trophy friendly, which Barcelona traditionally plays before the start of the season. As is customary at the closing of the preseason, the captain gives a speech to the fans, and because of the entire situation, the club did not want to take the risk with Ter Stegen. Whether Araujo will remain captain once the season starts (the first match is away to Mallorca on August 16) will be decided in the coming days, as Barcelona’s team captain is chosen by a vote within the locker room.