Barcelona’s medical report on Ter Stegen to be sent to La Liga will specify a four-month absence | OneFootball

Barcelona have officially initiated the process to register Marc-Andre ter Stegen as a long-term injury, as reported by AS.

This move, if approved, would allow the club to unlock 80% of the German goalkeeper’s wages and use that amount to register a replacement.

Following Ter Stegen’s back surgery, a preliminary medical report was issued by specialist Amelie Leglise, who has estimated a four-month recovery period.

This timeline is crucial, as La Liga regulations require a minimum of four months out for a player to be deemed a long-term absentee eligible for salary relief.

What next?

Barcelona’s medical team will now compile and submit a comprehensive report to La Liga. The dossier will include Ter Stegen’s full medical history, detailed recovery protocols, additional tests such as MRIs, and even surgical footage from his operation in France.

The club has a 30-day window to provide the documentation, but intends to present it as early as next week to speed up the process.

Marc-Andre ter Stegen will be out for four months. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Once submitted, La Liga’s independent Expert Committee will evaluate the case. Notably, only three of the usual four doctors will be involved in this process.

This is because one member has withdrawn due to prior ties with Barcelona, which could compromise the objectivity of the review.

What happens after that?

The ruling from the three medical professionals will be decisive in determining whether the club can officially list Ter Stegen as a long-term injury.

If the committee approves Barcelona’s submission, the club will then be granted the right to use 80% of the German shot-stopper’s wages towards registering another player within the limits of the financial fair play regulations.

This would be a much-needed boost for the Catalan side as they continue to wrestle with a restricted salary cap and a challenging transfer market.

In Ter Stegen’s case, the club is optimistic about getting the green light. The German international remains sidelined indefinitely, and even though he is reportedly not considering an exit despite Joan García’s arrival, his availability for the first half of the season is highly unlikely.