Barcelona Strip Ter Stegen of Captaincy Amid Disciplinary Dispute
Barcelona have officially removed goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen from his role as club captain amid ongoing disciplinary proceedings related to a dispute over medical data sharing.
The 33-year-old Germany international, who last featured for his national team in June, recently underwent back surgery in late July. However, tensions have escalated between Ter Stegen and the club after he reportedly refused to allow Barcelona to share his medical records with La Liga officials—a move that could have helped the club in registering new players under financial fair play regulations, depending on the length of his absence.
The issue stems from conflicting information about his recovery timeline. While La Liga rules stipulate that a player must be sidelined for at least four months to be classified as a long-term injury (which could allow the club salary cap relief), Ter Stegen stated in a recent social media post that he expects to return in just three months.
In response to the situation, Barcelona released an official statement:
“Following the disciplinary proceedings opened against player Marc-André ter Stegen, and until this matter is definitively resolved, the club, by mutual agreement with the sporting direction and the coaching staff, has decided to temporarily withdraw his role as first-team captain. During this period, the duties of first captain will be assumed by the current vice-captain, Ronald Araújo.”
The decision marks a significant moment in Ter Stegen’s decade-long career at the club. Since joining Barcelona from Borussia Mönchengladbach in 2014, he has made over 400 appearances and played a crucial role in the team’s success, including winning the UEFA Champions League and six La Liga titles.
Barcelona’s summer activity has seen the arrival of goalkeeper Joan Garcia from Espanyol, as well as England forward Marcus Rashford on loan from Manchester United—moves that add further weight to the club’s planning in Ter Stegen’s absence.
As the disciplinary process continues, the future of one of Barcelona’s longest-serving players remains uncertain.
