Barcelona Await Crucial La Liga Decision on Ter Stegen Injury Replacement
In the next 48 hours, Barcelona will receive a decisive ruling from La Liga that could significantly influence their transfer and squad registration plans for the coming months. The issue revolves around the long-term injury suffered by first-choice goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, whose recovery timeline will determine how much financial flexibility the club has under the league’s strict salary cap rules.
According to league regulations, if the medical committee confirms that Ter Stegen will be absent for five months or more, Barcelona will be authorized to utilize 80% of his gross annual salary for the registration of a replacement player. This provision is designed to help clubs cope with the sudden loss of a key squad member due to a serious injury.
In such a case, the top priority would be the signing and registration of Joan García, the young and promising goalkeeper from RCD Espanyol, who has been on Barça’s radar for weeks. Additionally, the freed-up funds could also assist in completing other pending registrations or reinforcements before the close of the transfer window.
However, if the injury assessment concludes that Ter Stegen will be out for around four months, the club will only be allowed to use 50% of his salary for this purpose. This reduced budget would severely limit Barcelona’s options, potentially forcing them to look for a low-cost or short-term solution rather than securing their preferred target.
This decision will not only affect the goalkeeping department but also have a knock-on effect on the club’s broader transfer and registration strategy, given that every euro counts under La Liga’s Financial Fair Play regulations. With the verdict expected within two days, the pressure is mounting at Camp Nou as the management prepares for two drastically different scenarios.
