The rift between Marc-André ter Stegen and Barcelona has escalated from a medical report standoff to open confrontation. While Barça accuses the German goalkeeper of "harming the club" by refusing to sign documents for La Liga—even stripping him of the captaincy in a flash—Ter Stegen’s camp has hit back hard: the injury is far from long-term, the refusal to sign is to return quickly and reclaim his starting spot, and this impasse has long been brewing.
Barça: From confusion to anger, captaincy stripped without hesitation
Barça insiders are stunned by the spiraling situation. On July 24, Ter Stegen suddenly announced via social media that he’d "return in three months"—a move that infuriated president Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco, who knew nothing about it, especially since he hadn’t even undergone back surgery yet. What irked the board more was his post-op refusal to sign consent for submitting the medical report to La Liga, which Barça calls a "selfish act" directly harming teammates’ registration and the team’s prospects.
Ordinarily, captains are voted by the dressing room (top four by seniority), but Barça broke tradition this year: stripping Ter Stegen of the armband before the vote, citing "he’s no longer a suitable candidate." Now, the club’s legal department is evaluating disciplinary proceedings, with a tough stance.
Ter Stegen’s camp: Minor injury, focus on reclaiming No.1 spot
Ter Stegen’s confidants flatly deny "harming the club." They stress the refusal to sign is because "submitting the report would acknowledge a long-term injury, which it’s not." The 33-year-old keeper insists recovery will be shorter, eager to return and compete for the starting role—even with new signing Joan García set to register, he believes "many players have bounced back from similar slumps to become key figures."
Ter Stegen’s anger runs deep: he claims Barça "smeared his captaincy" via local media before García’s signing, deliberately creating a "he’s expendable" narrative to pressure him out. Backed by the Spanish Footballers’ Association, he emphasizes "refusing to sign is a player’s legal right" and that Barça’s registration issues "shouldn’t be blamed on him."
Stalemate continues, three years left on contract
Though Barça thought Ter Stegen "likely to stay" after pre-season began on July 13, relations have since soured. With three years left on his 2022 contract (signed under Laporta), Ter Stegen is clear: "I’m determined to stay." Barça, however, is "confident" legally, not ruling out harsher measures.
A battle over medical reports, captaincy dignity, and the No.1 spot is only heating up.
