Ter Stegen Reinstated as Barcelona Captain After Medical Dispute Resolved

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Marc-André ter Stegen has regained the Barcelona captaincy following a resolved conflict with the club over medical documentation related to his back surgery.


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Captaincy Restored After Tense Stand-Off

Barcelona have officially reinstated Marc-André ter Stegen as first-team captain after the German goalkeeper reached an agreement with the club to authorize the release of his medical information. The move ends a brief but tense standoff that had seen him temporarily stripped of the armband and facing internal disciplinary action.

The dispute centered around La Liga’s registration rules, which require formal confirmation of a player’s injury duration. Ter Stegen, who underwent a second back surgery on July 20, announced he would be sidelined for three months — but under La Liga regulations, a minimum absence of four months is needed for clubs to register a replacement and deduct part of the player's salary.

Barcelona had hoped to take advantage of that clause to sign Joan García, a goalkeeper trusted by both new manager Hansi Flick and sporting director Deco. However, La Liga needed written consent from Ter Stegen to access and verify his medical records.

Privacy Law Sparks Conflict

The situation escalated when Ter Stegen refused to sign the authorization, citing concerns under Spain’s data protection laws, which supersede any agreements between La Liga and the Spanish Footballers’ Association (AFE). His refusal triggered backlash from the club, who responded by removing him from the captaincy and assigning it to Ronald Araújo.

Barcelona even considered legal action against the 32-year-old goalkeeper. However, the crisis was eventually defused following a private meeting involving club doctor Ricard Pruna, director Deco, and Ter Stegen’s representatives. The talks led to a compromise, with Ter Stegen ultimately agreeing to sign the necessary paperwork.

A Chapter Closed — For Now

With the conflict resolved, Ter Stegen has officially resumed his role as Barcelona’s first-team captain, putting an end to a delicate internal standoff. The club has since confirmed the leadership change, emphasizing a renewed sense of unity heading into the 2025/26 season.

This incident highlights the growing tension between player privacy rights and club operational demands — particularly as financial regulations in La Liga continue to push teams into difficult administrative decisions.

For now, Barcelona will proceed with plans to reinforce their squad during Ter Stegen’s recovery, while the German veteran remains sidelined for the next several months.

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