Barcelona Strips Ter Stegen of Captaincy Amid Growing Disputes
August 7, 202533 ViewsRead Time: 2 minutes
Font Size
16
The Spanish league champion FC Barcelona decided to strip goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen of the captaincy today, Thursday, amid escalating disputes between the German goalkeeper and the club due to his injury crisis while the Catalan team attempts to register new signings.
Barcelona signed goalkeeper Joan Garcia, 24, from Espanyol last month, as the club is likely to sell the 33-year-old Ter Stegen to make room for resolving the salary crisis to register Garcia and Marcus Rashford, who is on loan from Manchester United.
However, Ter Stegen had to undergo another surgery to complete treatment for a multiple ligament tear in his knee sustained last season, which closed the door on his departure during the summer transfer window and forced Barcelona to change their plans.
The club asked Ter Stegen to sign a medical report stating that he would be out for a long period, allowing them to utilize 80% of his salary until mid-season and comply with the financial fair play rules in La Liga.
Ter Stegen angered the club's management by announcing via social media that he would be out for only three months, as La Liga regulations require a player to be sidelined for at least four months for the injury to be considered long-term.
In a statement, Barcelona said: "Following the disciplinary proceedings opened against goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, and until this matter is resolved definitively, the club, in mutual agreement with the sports management and coaching staff, decided to temporarily strip him of the first team's captaincy.
It added: "During this period, the current vice-captain, Ronald Araujo, will assume the duties of first captain."
Barcelona signed goalkeeper Joan Garcia, 24, from Espanyol last month, as the club is likely to sell the 33-year-old Ter Stegen to make room for resolving the salary crisis to register Garcia and Marcus Rashford, who is on loan from Manchester United.
However, Ter Stegen had to undergo another surgery to complete treatment for a multiple ligament tear in his knee sustained last season, which closed the door on his departure during the summer transfer window and forced Barcelona to change their plans.
The club asked Ter Stegen to sign a medical report stating that he would be out for a long period, allowing them to utilize 80% of his salary until mid-season and comply with the financial fair play rules in La Liga.
Ter Stegen angered the club's management by announcing via social media that he would be out for only three months, as La Liga regulations require a player to be sidelined for at least four months for the injury to be considered long-term.
In a statement, Barcelona said: "Following the disciplinary proceedings opened against goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, and until this matter is resolved definitively, the club, in mutual agreement with the sports management and coaching staff, decided to temporarily strip him of the first team's captaincy.
It added: "During this period, the current vice-captain, Ronald Araujo, will assume the duties of first captain."
