Here are the inside details on why Marc-Andre ter Stegen has been stripped of the Barcelona captaincy.
Barcelona have removed Ter Stegen from his role as club captain, amid growing tensions between the German goalkeeper and the club’s hierarchy.
The move is fuelled by a dispute over his recent back injury and the club’s financial situation under La Liga’s salary cap regulations.
Here’s a deep dive into the unfolding saga and what it means for Ter Stegen and Barcelona.
Why Has Ter Stegen Been Stripped of the Barcelona Captaincy?
The catalyst was a disagreement over the nature of Ter Stegen’s back injury and the handling of his medical information.
Barcelona need to comply with La Liga’s salary limit rules, which cap how much clubs can spend on player wages based on their revenue.
Ter Stegen underwent back surgery recently, and the club hoped to classify his injury as “long-term” (at least four months of recovery) in order to register new signings like Joan Garcia, their €25 million goalkeeper signing from Espanyol.
This classification would allow Barcelona to temporarily replace Ter Stegen on the squad list under La Liga rules, easing their salary cap constraints.
However, Ter Stegen withheld consent to share his medical reports with La Liga’s independent panel.
Without this consent, Barcelona could not formally register their new players under the injury replacement rule, which ultimately sparked the breakdown in relations between the goalkeeper and the club.
How Does La Liga’s Salary Cap Impact Barcelona’s Squad Registration?
La Liga enforces one of the world’s strictest salary caps, limiting clubs’ wage bills to a percentage of their revenue.
Barcelona have been grappling with these limits for several seasons, forcing them to make tough choices on player wages and registration.
The “long-term injury” rule allows clubs to temporarily remove an injured player from the squad list and bring in a replacement if the new player’s salary is lower.
Barcelona used this tactic last year to register Dani Olmo after an injury to Andreas Christensen.
However, by denying the long-term injury classification for Ter Stegen, the club’s ability to register Joan Garcia and other new signings like Wojciech Szczesny and Marcus Rashford is severely hampered.
What Is Barcelona’s Position on Ter Stegen’s Injury and Captaincy?
From Barcelona’s perspective, Ter Stegen’s refusal to authorise the release of his medical details is seen as obstructive and harmful to the club’s sporting plans.
Sources inside the club suggest they view the goalkeeper’s stance as “selfish”, potentially negating the playing chances of other squad members.
The situation escalated further after Ter Stegen posted on social media in late July that he expected to return in three months, a statement made before surgery and without club approval.
Club president Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco reportedly saw this as undermining their authority and causing confusion.
In response, Barcelona preemptively removed Ter Stegen from the captaincy ahead of the usual team vote on leadership roles.
The club described the captaincy removal as “temporary” while legal disciplinary action is considered.
What Does Ter Stegen Say About the Dispute?
Ter Stegen’s camp insists the goalkeeper is within his rights to protect his medical privacy and that his injury is not long-term.
They argue he is committed to recovering quickly and reclaiming his position as Barcelona’s No. 1 goalkeeper.
Sources close to Ter Stegen also highlight a broader frustration with the club, citing efforts to question his leadership and status in the squad since the signing of Joan Garcia.
The goalkeeper feels unfairly targeted by media narratives suggesting he is expendable.
Despite this, Ter Stegen remains contracted to Barcelona for three more years and is determined to stay and compete for his place.
His team-mates have publicly shown support for him, reinforcing his role as a key figure in the squad.
What Is the Mood in the Barcelona Dressing Room?
The announcement that Ter Stegen had been stripped of the captaincy reportedly came as a surprise to many players, who first learnt the news through social media rather than direct communication from the club.
Ronald Araujo has been named as the new captain in Ter Stegen’s absence, but the goalkeeper has the backing of influential squad members like Frenkie de Jong, Gavi, and Raphinha, who have all praised Ter Stegen’s leadership qualities and legacy at the club.
The dressing room remains focused on the season ahead, but the saga shows the challenges Barcelona face in balancing financial realities with maintaining harmony among their key players.
Ultimately, Ter Stegen being stripped of the Barcelona captaincy reveals deeper cracks within the club’s management and squad dynamics.
