Barcelona face a decision over their team planning following Marc-Andre Ter Stegen’s serious injury.
The Catalan giants’ captain was stretchered off during their 5-1 La Liga win at Villarreal on September 22, with the club later confirming he would undergo surgery on a knee injury.
Barcelona have yet to offer a date for the veteran goalkeeper’s return to action, but he will not play again until 2024.
It is likely that injury will end his season, or at least that he will miss the majority of the campaign, leaving Barcelona without a key player in Hansi Flick’s squad.
Latest news on Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s injury
Following tests on the injury, Barcelona sent their captain to undergo surgery on a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee, with his recovery time not confirmed at this stage.
Similar injuries have included an eight-month spell out of action and that could mean ter Stegen is not seen again until 2025/26.
Can Barcelona sign a replacement for Ter Stegen?
Despite being outside of both seasonal transfer windows, Barcelona are allowed to sign a replacement for Ter Stegen, albeit within strict UEFA and La Liga guidelines.
Barcelona can only sign a player who is currently a free agent, and not under contract or tied to another club via a pre-contract agreement, and they must ensure that any deal keeps them within La Liga’s financial limits.
The club have constantly had to change deals to stay within those rules, and there is the option of releasing ter Stegen as a La Liga player, to free up a wage place.
If Ter Stegen’s absence keeps him sidelined for more than four months, that option can be activated and Barcelona are allowed to spend 80% of his salary on a replacement.
However, according to reports from AS JournalLa Liga should remind Barcelona not to try to bend the rules to their advantage after the controversy of 2020.
Ousmane Dembélé’s injury allowed FC Barcelona to recruit Martin Braithwaite from Leganés, the latter being subsequently relegated.
This has triggered a rule change on the loophole and Barcelona’s approach to the situation will be closely watched.
Who could replace Ter Stegen at Barcelona?
With Barcelona’s options limited to free transfers, one candidate immediately offered to make the move.
Former Blaugrana star Claudio Bravo has offered to take the call, if Barcelona contact him, despite announcing his retirement from the game in August.
Former Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, 41, who retired from football last month, has revealed he would be open to returning to the club following Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s injury.
Imagine ? pic.twitter.com/OcDu6qy7EO
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) September 23, 2024
Bravo left Real Betis at the end of his contract in July and quickly decided to call time on his career, which included a La Liga, Copa del Rey and UEFA Champions League treble at Barcelona in 2015.
Although he turned 41 in April, Bravo could be an option, if Flick wants to add an experienced character to support Inaki Pena.
