Even if medical scans clear Ter Stegen of serious damage, a move to Girona is far from a formality. In fact, the financial complexity of the deal threatens to scupper the move just as much as any injury.
Barcelona are desperate to trim their wage bill to comply with La Liga’s strict financial fair play regulations. Offloading a high earner like Ter Stegen, even temporarily, is a priority for sporting director Deco. However, Girona’s financial reality is vastly different from that of their neighbours.
Reports indicate that Girona have a strict salary cap structure and can only contribute approximately €1 million towards Ter Stegen’s wages for the remainder of the season. This figure represents a fraction of his substantial salary package. For the loan to proceed, Barcelona would be forced to continue paying the vast majority of his wages while he plays for a local rival.
This presents a dilemma for the Barcelona board. While they want to respect the player’s wish to play and appreciate his years of service, subsidising his salary to such a degree makes little economic sense, especially when the primary goal of his exit is to save money.