In a shocking twist at Camp Nou, Barcelona has stripped veteran goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen of his first-team captaincy amid an escalating dispute over medical transparency with La Liga.
The 33-year-old German shot-stopper, a key figure for the Catalan giants since 2014, recently underwent back surgery in late July. But tensions erupted when Ter Stegen allegedly refused to allow Barcelona to share his full medical details with La Liga, a move that could directly impact the club’s ability to register new signings.
According to La Liga rules, a player must be sidelined for a minimum of four months to be classified as a long-term absentee, a designation that would give Barcelona more financial flexibility in squad registration. Ter Stegen, however, publicly announced on social media that he expects to return in just three months, potentially complicating the club’s plans.
The fallout comes during a busy transfer window for Barcelona, which saw the arrival of Spanish goalkeeper Joan Garcia from Espanyol and England striker Marcus Rashford on loan from Manchester United.
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In an official statement, Barcelona confirmed: “Following the disciplinary proceedings initiated against Marc-Andre ter Stegen, and until this issue is fully resolved, the club, in agreement with the sporting management and coaching staff, has decided to temporarily withdraw his role as first-team captain. During this period, vice-captain Ronald Araujo will assume the responsibilities of first captain.”
Ter Stegen, who joined from Borussia Monchengladbach over a decade ago, has made more than 400 appearances for the Blaugrana, lifting six La Liga titles and the 2015 Champions League trophy. His demotion marks one of the most dramatic disciplinary actions taken against a senior player in recent club history, and fans worldwide are now debating whether the German star’s stand was an act of principle or a risky clash with authority.
With the club already under intense scrutiny both on and off the pitch, this captaincy crisis could prove to be one of Barcelona’s defining storylines of the season.
