Ter Stegen defends the timeline of surgery while Barcelona is struggling with player registration

Viewant of Barcelona, Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, hit back on suggestions that he is to blame for the club’s inability to register new players, and stated on Friday that his back surgery and recovery time line were completely approved by the Spanish champions.

The 33-year-old German rehabilitation schedule of three months has created an unexpected headache for Barcelona, who had hoped to use his injury to illuminate their financial fair play limitations under La Liga rules.

Barcelona had asked him to sign a long -term medical leave with which they could release 80% of his wages until the middle of the season and meet the financial stock market rules of La Liga, so that they could register new players.

But the announcement of Ter Stegen on social media that he would be sidelined for only three months, has annoyed club management, since LABERA rules require that a player is not at least four months out of operation to be considered an injury in the long term.

«The decision to undergo surgery was taken after consultation with medical professionals and fully approved by the club,» said Ter Stegen in a statement about Instagram, a day after he was stripped of the club’s captain.

«Moreover, I publicly announced the minimal recovery timing that I need afterwards, which was communicated to me by the most renowned experts and always in coordination with the club.»

Barca signed the 24-year-old goalkeeper Joan Garcia of local rivals Espanyol last month, while Marcus Rashford was signed by Manchester United.

However, both players still have to be registered with the new LA Liga season that starts on August 15.

«I would also like to clarify – in the light of certain speculation – that all signing sessions and contract extensions of the club were completed before my operation,» added Ter Stegen.

“That is why I could not imagine that my unfortunate circumstances with the new operation that I had to undergo would be necessary for the registration of other colleagues … Every alternative interpretation seems to me both unfair and inaccurate to me.

«I understand that difficult moments can generate tension, but I rely on dialogue and responsibility, we can solve this situation constructively. I am fully willing to work with the management of the club to resolve the case and offer the requested authorization.»

The controversy emphasizes Barcelona’s financial struggles while fighting to register new signing sessions.

Last season the club approached the Spain’s National Sports Council to enable them to place Dani Olmo and Pau Victor until the end of the season after La Liga said they did not have the capacity to register the two players based on their accounts.