Ter Stegen is in the midst of a major fallout with the club
Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen
Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Getty Images)
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Barcelona have stripped goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen of the club captaincy as the rift between the club and it’s No 1 deepens.
Barca wanted Ter Stegen to sign a consent form permitting the club to sign him off as a long-term injury in order for the keeper to be excluded from their salary registration. The club signed 24-year-old goalkeeper Joan Garcia from local rivals Espanyol last month, with the club likely expecting to sell Ter Stegen, 33, to make space in their wage bill for Garcia and Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford.
However, Ter Stegen had to have more surgery to finish repairing a multiple knee ligament tear sustained last season, closing the door for him to leave in the close-season transfer window and forcing Barca to try a different approach.
The club asked Ter Stegen to sign a long-term medical leave that would allow them to clear 80 per cent of his wages until mid-season and comply with La Liga’s Financial Fair Play rules.
But Ter Stegen's announcement on social media that he would be sidelined for only three months irked the club management as LaLiga rules require a player to remain out of action for at least four months to be considered a long-term injury.
The club said in a statement: “FC Barcelona hereby announces that, following the disciplinary proceedings opened against player Marc-André ter Stegen, and until this matter is definitively resolved, the club, by mutual agreement with the Sporting Direction and the coaching staff, has decided to temporarily withdraw his role as first-team captain.
“During this period, the duties of first captain will be assumed by the current vice-captain, Ronald Araujo.”
additional reporting by Reuters