Barcelona expect Ter Stegen injury not to be serious after initial assessment | OneFootball

FC Barcelona were handed an injury scare on the eve of their Spanish Super Cup semi-final against Athletic Club after club captain Marc Andre ter Stegen was unable to complete the final training session in Jeddah.

The German goalkeeper felt discomfort in one of his knees towards the end of the session and was subsequently allowed to return to Barcelona to undergo further medical checks.

Ter Stegen flew back immediately in order to be examined by Dr Joan Carles Monllau, the surgeon who previously operated on the knee, with Diego Kochen called up to cover his absence in the squad.

Despite initial concern, there is optimism within the club regarding the severity of the issue. According to Mundo Deportivo, the first examinations carried out in Saudi Arabia by doctors Ricard Pruna and Lucas Gomez suggest that the problem is not serious.

Barcelona, therefore, decided to act purely as a precaution, especially given the player’s injury history, which includes multiple knee and back surgeries in recent years.

Ter Stegen was reportedly shaken by the discomfort, both physically and mentally, but the positive early prognosis comes as a relief for all parties. It also keeps open the possibility of a winter departure should the goalkeeper decide to seek a move in January.

The 33-year-old is keen to secure regular playing time ahead of the next World Cup in order to maintain his status as Germany’s first choice.

Joan García is Barcelona’s no. 1, and Hansi Flick made it clear that he would play the Spanish Super Cup games. Ter Stegen would, in any case, have had to warm the bench, and it does not make sense to keep hold of him in Jeddah.

It remains to be seen how this injury situation develops and whether ter Stegen manages to find a new club to continue his career this January.