Barcelona have confirmed the temporary removal of Marc-André ter Stegen from his role as first-team captain following a disciplinary issue between the club and the Germany international.
The decision comes in the wake of a reported disagreement surrounding Ter Stegen’s medical privacy, which has implications for Barcelona’s player registration strategy. The 33-year-old goalkeeper recently underwent back surgery and is currently sidelined.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the club said, “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.” The statement confirmed that vice-captain Ronald Araújo will assume captaincy duties in the interim.
According to multiple Spanish media outlets, the issue stems from Ter Stegen’s reluctance to allow Barcelona to share his medical information with La Liga. The league requires access to such data to verify a player’s long-term injury status, which can impact salary cap calculations and, crucially, allow clubs to temporarily free up space for new signings.
La Liga rules specify that a player must be sidelined for a minimum of four months to be classified as a long-term absentee, potentially enabling their salary to be excluded from the club’s wage bill. However, in a recent post on social media, Ter Stegen publicly declared he expects to be out for only three months. This discrepancy could complicate Barcelona’s hopes of registering new players, including their recent signings.
Among those signings are Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia and England striker Marcus Rashford, who has joined on loan from Manchester United. With Ter Stegen unavailable, Garcia is expected to compete with backup keeper Inaki Peña for the starting role.
The German’s unwillingness to comply with the club’s request to share his medical details has reportedly caused frustration within the Barcelona hierarchy. Sources close to the situation suggest the club believes his stance could jeopardize their transfer planning during a crucial phase of squad rebuilding.
Ter Stegen, who joined Barcelona from Borussia Mönchengladbach in 2014, has been a key figure for the Catalan giants over the past decade. He has made over 400 appearances, winning numerous trophies including six La Liga titles and the UEFA Champions League in 2015. He was appointed as one of the club captains ahead of the 2023-24 season, succeeding long-serving veterans like Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets in the leadership hierarchy.
The timing of this controversy is less than ideal for Barcelona, who are entering the 2025-26 season with growing expectations under manager Hansi Flick. The German coach has been tasked with rejuvenating the team’s identity and integrating new faces amid financial constraints and high pressure from fans.
While the club insists that the removal of the captaincy is temporary and pending resolution of the matter, the situation casts a shadow over Ter Stegen’s long-term future at the Camp Nou. At 33, and with his contract due to expire in 2026, questions are already surfacing about whether he will complete his career in Barcelona colours.
Despite the current rift, the club acknowledged Ter Stegen’s contributions, stating, “Marc has been an exemplary professional and a cornerstone of our success over the past decade. We hope for a swift resolution to this matter.”
As it stands, all eyes will now be on Araújo’s leadership and the performance of Barcelona’s new-look squad as they prepare to kick off their La Liga title defence. For Ter Stegen, the road to recovery now runs parallel with the challenge of rebuilding trust within the club he has long called home.
