Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen will undergo knee surgery on Tuesday and may not be back on the pitch until December.
A patella tendon injury has plagued Ter Stegen all year, with the issue first being treated in early January. After a brief respite, the German started to feel pain in his knee again and admitted that surgery was needed but postponed the operation until the end of the season.
Ter Stegen has been dealing with this problem for months / David Ramos / Getty Images
With Barcelona’s campaign now over after an 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich, ter Stegen has pushed ahead with plans to recover from his knee injury, and AS say he will be out for between three and four months. Looking at the duration of
This means that, if all goes well, Ter Stegen may not reappear until the end of November but will likely see his absence stretch into December.
This now leaves Barcelona in a difficult situation, as no one at the club can be sure who will replace Ter Stegen for the start of next season.
NATO could be sold this summer / Quality Sport Images/Getty Images
Current understudy Neto has been heavily linked with a move away from the club and is one of a number of players who have been made available for transfer, so finding a new shot-stopper could be Ronald Koeman’s first order of business if The Dutchman completes his expected transfer to the camp. Nine
Academy goalkeeper Iñaki Peña has trained with the first team this season and could be in line to feature, although there will certainly be questions about whether he is that important to Barça. Ready to start the season.
Koeman expected to take over at Barcelona/Socrates Images/Getty Images
With the 2019/20 campaign ending in disaster, club officials will be desperate to see things turn around as soon as possible. Almost everyone in the first team has been made available for transfer in an attempt to finance a rebuilding squad, but it’s hardly a buyer’s market these days.
Ter Stegen is one of a select few seen as untouchable at the Camp Nou, where talks are ongoing to renew the German’s contract, but a long-term injury could delay those talks. Is.
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