Marc-Andre ter Stegen suffered a tear in his right knee in the match against Villarreal. Barcelona confirmed that he had a successful surgery. Although the Catalan team has not given a specific time for the German goalkeeper's return, according to the Spanish press, the Barca captain will likely need 8-10 months to recover. This means he will be out for the rest of the season.
Doctors explain that recovery from this type of injury requires caution in the first 2 months to avoid putting pressure on the damaged area. When more stable, Ter Stegen can gradually regain his mobility. However, this process is very slow, especially for a goalkeeper who often has to jump and catch the ball.
This is not the first time Ter Stegen has had problems with his right knee. He had previously suffered from tendinitis and underwent two surgeries to resolve it. However, this injury is much more serious.
Like last season, when Ter Stegen suffered a back injury, his replacement will likely be Inaki Pena. Sources from La Masia described Pena as a goalkeeper with a very similar style to Ter Stegen - calm and confident in handling the ball from the home field. This will be a great opportunity for the 25-year-old goalkeeper to prove his ability.
In the 17 matches Pena replaced Ter Stegen last season, Barca went through the most difficult period, including heavy home losses against Girona and Villarreal. However, the Spanish goalkeeper still made a good impression on his teammates and coaching staff.
In addition to Inaki Pena, Barca also have promising young goalkeepers such as Diego Kochen, Ander Astralaga or Aron Yaakobishvili. All are ready to become additional options when needed. The Blaugrana are not afraid to use young talents as they have introduced a series of players from the academy in recent seasons.
In addition, Barcelona can also consider the option of buying a new goalkeeper. However, Barca can only sign free agents. In addition, La Liga currently does not allow teams to make "urgent purchases" outside the transfer window, as in the case of Martin Braithwaite in 2020. Quality free agents include Keylor Navas, Loris Karius and Jordi Masip.
Barca are having difficulty signing new contracts due to La Liga's regulations on salary funds. However, the league's regulations allow them to temporarily register replacement players for long-term injury cases.
Barca's board will hold a meeting to discuss how to deal with Ter Stegen's injury. Their current plan is likely to be to replace Inaki Pena and not rush to chase a new goalkeeper. However, the situation will be reassessed before the winter transfer window based on the club's performance.
Ter Stegen's injury is clearly a big blow for Barcelona. However, with their impressive form in recent times and available alternatives, the Camp Nou team has the right to confidently overcome this challenge and not repeat the situation in last season.
