Barcelona ditch Marc-André ter Stegen as captain over medical dispute | Barcelona

Barcelona stripped Marc-André ter Stegen of the captaincy on Thursday as a feud escalated between the Germany goalkeeper and the membership over his damage standing amid makes an attempt to register signings.

The defending La Liga champions signed the 24-year-old goalkeeper Joan García from cross-city rivals Espanyol final month, with the membership in all probability anticipating to promote Ter Stegen, 33, to create space of their wage invoice for García and the Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford.

Nevertheless, Ter Stegen wanted extra surgical procedure to complete repairing a a number of knee ligament tear sustained final season, stopping him from leaving in the summertime switch window and forcing Barcelona to attempt a unique strategy.

The membership requested Ter Stegen to signal a long-term medical depart that might permit them to clear 80% of his wages till mid-season, and adjust to La Liga’s monetary honest play guidelines. However Ter Stegen’s announcement on social media that he could be sidelined for 3 months irked the administration as a result of the competitors guidelines require a participant to stay out of motion for a minimum of 4 months to be thought of a long-term damage.

“FC Barcelona declares that, following the disciplinary proceedings opened in opposition to participant Marc-André ter Stegen, and till this matter is definitively resolved, the membership, in settlement with the sports activities administration and the technical workers, has determined to briefly take away him as captain of the primary group,” an announcement stated. “Throughout this era, the duties of first-team captain will probably be assumed by the present vice-captain, Ronald Araújo.”

The controversy highlights Barcelona’s monetary struggles as they’ve battled to register signings for a number of years working. The membership start their La Liga title defence on 16 August at Mallorca.