Goalkeeper questions idea that Barcelona were counting on his injury to register the players they signed this summer
Marc-Andre ter Stegen has denied suggestions that he is responsible for Barcelona’s current difficulties in registering new signings.
The 33-year-old had a back surgery earlier this summer and confirmed publicly that he expected to return after three months.
But the timeframe Ter Stegen announced caused frustration within Barcelona’s hierarchy. La Liga’s long-term injury rules require a player to be sidelined for at least four months before a club can use his salary space to register other players.
Barcelona had hoped Ter Stegen would sign off on an extended leave of up to four months, which would have allowed the club to defer 80 per cent of his salary until mid-season and free up room to register players such as Marcus Rashford and new goalkeeper Joan Garcia. His public statement of a shorter recovery period limited that option.
The player also refused to sign a consent form to have his medical records sent to La Liga to enable the injury exemption rule.
On Thursday, Ter Stegen was stripped of the club’s captaincy. Responding on Instagram, the Germany international said the decision to undergo surgery was “made after consultation with medical professionals and fully approved by the club” and that the recovery time he announced was based on guidance from specialists that were working closely with the club.
He also questioned the idea that Barcelona were counting on his injury to register the players they signed this summer.
“I would like to clarify – in light of certain speculation – that all of the club’s signings and contract renewals were completed prior to my surgery,” said Ter Stegen.
“Therefore at no point could I consider that my unfortunate circumstances with the new surgery I had to undergo would be necessary for the registration of other colleagues. Any alternative interpretation seems both unfair and inaccurate to me.”
