Marc-André Ter Stegen had a promising start to the season with FC Barcelona. He had been named team captain and in the first few games, the club was sweeping the league.
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However, the German goalkeeper suffered a rupture of the patellar tendon in his right knee that will keep him out for many months. What will his team and his national team do to replace him?
Ter Stegen has “a complete tear of the patellar tendon in his right knee. This afternoon he will undergo surgery. A new medical report will be provided at the end of the operation,” according to the club’s social media posts. He could be out for between six and eight months, according to the press.
Ter Stegen was injured on Sunday in Barcelona’s 5-1 win over Villarreal. Just before half-time, the German goalkeeper fell to the ground after blocking a ball in the air, showing obvious signs of pain in his right knee. He had to be taken off on a stretcher and replaced by Iñaki Peña.
“His injury is very hard for us. We have to take care of the players we have now considering the number of games we play,” said his coach, German Hansi Flick, on Sunday.
Barça’s good form this season under the arrival of the German coach – La Liga leaders with a record six wins – has been overshadowed by the large number of absences. Ter Stegen joins Dani Olmo, Fermín López, Marc Bernal, Andreas Christensen, Ronald Araujo, Frenkie de Jong and Gavi.
The goalkeepers who could join Barcelona
Now, Barcelona will have to decide whether to hire a new goalkeeper or turn to Iñaki Peña (25 years old and around 20 games since the 2022-2023 season) in the short term.
Iñaki Peña
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The Catalan club could strengthen its position, bearing in mind that it must be a player without a team if it does not want to wait until the January transfer window. And the names being mentioned are as varied as those of Costa Rican Keylor Navas, German Loris Karius or two goalkeepers who have already played for the club, Jordi Masip and Edgar Badia. The last of them is another goalkeeper with a Barça past and recently retired: the Chilean Claudio Bravo.
Ter Stegen’s absence also alters the plans of German coach Julian Nagelsmann, who had named him his “number 1” at the beginning of September following the retirement of Manuel Neuer, after 12 years of waiting as a substitute since his debut in 2012.
“Marc’s injury is a big shock for us. We will miss him in the national team, on and off the pitch,” said Nagelsmann. “Marc has already overcome several obstacles during his career. I am convinced that he will come back stronger this time,” added Rudi Völler, the national team’s sporting director.
The German club could turn to 28-year-old Alexandre Nübel, who belongs to Bayern Munich but is on loan at Stuttgart, with whom he is playing in the Champions League.
Ter Stegen has received support from Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who missed virtually all of last season with a serious knee injury.
“I’m sorry about Marc-André Ter Stegen’s injury, it really hurt me to see you leave the pitch like that. I hope you can recover soon and we can see you in goal again,” the Belgian said on his social networks, adding a photo of the two of them hugging each other after a duel between the two Spanish giants.
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With AFP
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