Marc-Andre ter Stegen suffered a torn patellar tendon in his right knee during the match against Villarreal. Barcelona confirmed that he had undergone successful surgery. Although the Catalan club have not given a specific time for the German goalkeeper's return, according to Spanish press, the Barca captain is likely to need 8-10 months to recover. This means he will be out for the rest of the season.
Doctors explained that recovering from this type of injury requires caution in the first two months to avoid putting pressure on the affected area. Once Ter Stegen is more stable, he will 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 has previously suffered from tendinitis and has undergone two surgeries to resolve it. However, this injury is much more serious.
Like last season, when Ter Stegen suffered a back injury, the replacement is likely to be Inaki Pena. Sources from La Masia describe Pena as a goalkeeper with a style very similar to Ter Stegen – calm and confident in handling the ball from deep. This will be a great opportunity for the 25-year-old to prove his ability.
In the 17 matches Pena replaced Ter Stegen last season, Barca went through their most difficult period, including heavy home defeats to Girona and Villarreal. However, the Spanish goalkeeper still made a good impression on his teammates and the coaching staff.
In addition to Inaki Pena, Barca also has promising young goalkeepers such as Diego Kochen, Ander Astralaga or Aron Yaakobishvili. All are ready to become additional options when needed. Blaugrana are not afraid to use young talent as they have introduced a series of players from the academy in recent seasons.
Barcelona could also consider the option of buying a new goalkeeper. However, Barca can only sign players who are free agents. In addition, La Liga currently does not allow teams to make "emergency purchases" outside the transfer window, as happened with Martin Braithwaite in 2020. Quality goalkeepers who are currently free include Keylor Navas, Loris Karius and Jordi Masip.
Barca are struggling to sign new players due to La Liga's wage bill, but league rules allow them to temporarily sign replacements for long-term injuries.
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 into 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 loss for Barcelona. However, with his impressive form in recent times and the available replacements, the Camp Nou team can be confident of overcoming this challenge and not repeating the situation of last season.
