Barcelona’s prominent goalkeeper, Marc-André ter Stegen, has announced that he will undergo a surgical procedure to address ongoing back issues. The expected recovery timeline is approximately three months, as confirmed by the German international on Thursday.
At 33 years old, Ter Stegen hasn’t been able to train with his teammates since FC Barcelona started preseason training last week, due to a severe back pain.
According to reports the goalkeeper was considering surgery to solve his issue, and he has now decided to proceed with that choice.
“Today is a personally challenging day for me,” Ter Stegen stated. “Physically and athletically, I feel great, but unfortunately, I’m still experiencing discomfort.
“After detailed discussions with the medical team at Barcelona and outside specialists, it has been concluded that the best and safest way to fully heal is through back surgery.
“After my previous back surgery, I was able to return to playing after 66 days; however, this time, the doctors think it will take about three months as a precaution to reduce any risks.
“It’s emotionally tough not to be able to support the team during this time. Luckily, the rehab process is manageable, and the road to recovery is clear.”
The timing of the injury is not ideal for Ter Stegen, who must now put in extra effort to keep his spot in the Barça lineup following the €25 million acquisition of Joan García from Espanyol. FC Barcelona is considering the possibility of letting its goalkeeper, Marc-André ter Stegen, leave the team this summer. This idea comes after they brought in another player, García, but ter Stegen is still unsure about making a move.
Barcelona plans to have Wojciech Szczęsny, who just signed a new two-year contract, act as a backup goalkeeper behind García.
Even with these changes, ter Stegen’s main goal is to get back into top physical shape and compete for the starting goalkeeper spot. He also hopes to play for Germany in the upcoming World Cup next summer.
Ter Stegen missed a large part of last season as a result of a knee injury. This situation was one of the reasons why Barcelona chose to bring Szczęsny out of retirement to join the club.
