Barcelona Drops Ter Stegen as Captain Over Injury Dispute and Salary Rules

Barcelona has officially removed Marc-André ter Stegen from his role as team captain because of an ongoing issue linked to his injury status and disagreement with the club’s financial plans. The club confirmed the decision on Thursday, saying it will stay in place until the problem is resolved.

The German goalkeeper has reportedly refused to be classified as a long-term injury case, which would help the club reduce his wages on paper. This step is necessary for Barcelona to meet La Liga’s financial fair play rules, especially as the new season approaches. Without making room in their wage bill, the club may struggle to register new players.

In his place, Barcelona has named Ronald Araujo, the Uruguayan vice-captain, to lead the team. The change comes amid rising tension between Ter Stegen and club officials, who say the 33-year-old has also declined to share his medical records with La Liga. That refusal has made it harder for the club to prove that he qualifies as a long-term absentee.

Ter Stegen recently had back surgery in July after battling injuries for the past two seasons. His role as the club’s main goalkeeper is now in doubt. Two other players, Joan Garcia, 24, and veteran Wojciech Szczesny, 35, are being considered for the starting position. Szczesny, who played a key part in last season’s success, has even been offered a contract extension.

This situation puts Ter Stegen, the last player remaining from Barcelona’s 2015 Champions League-winning team, in a difficult spot. If the matter is not resolved, he could even risk losing his contract altogether due to league rules.