FC Barcelona has encountered a significant obstacle due to La Liga’s stringent financial regulations and an unexpectedly optimistic recovery timeline for their star player.
The club had hoped to leverage a key player’s absence to ease their salary cap issues, but the situation has taken a challenging turn, limiting their ability to register new signings as they adjust to the latest developments.
The player in question is Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Barcelona’s 33-year-old captain and goalkeeper.
Ter Stegen recently announced on social media that he will undergo back surgery, expecting to be sidelined for three months as a precautionary measure, according to Mundo Deportivo.
This timeline, while positive for his return to action, prevents Barcelona from utilizing La Liga’s rule that permits the club to register a replacement player by using 80% of an injured player’s salary, but only if the injury sidelines the player for four months or more.
Ter Stegen’s projected three-month recovery falls short of this threshold, blocking the club’s ability to register new signing Joan Garcia.
This development is a significant blow to Barcelona, which had previously employed a similar strategy to register Wojciech Szczesny and Dani Olmo last season.
Ter Stegen’s absence will still impact the team, as he is set to miss crucial matches, including the La Liga opener against Mallorca.
However, his determination to return swiftly—citing a previous 66-day recovery from back surgery—underscores his commitment to the club, even as it complicates their financial maneuvering under Hansi Flick’s management.
Barcelona now faces the challenge of navigating its squad registration without the anticipated salary relief, potentially forcing the club to explore alternative financial solutions or delay Garcia’s integration.
As Ter Stegen begins his rehabilitation, the Culers will rally behind their captain, but the club’s front office must address this unexpected hurdle to ensure a competitive squad.
The coming months will test Barcelona’s resilience, both on the pitch and in the transfer market, as they adapt to this regulatory setback.
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