According to an update from Mundo Deportivo, it has come to light that Barcelona captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen is unlikely to receive medical clearance until late December or early January.
This development prolongs his spell on the sidelines far longer than initially expected.
It has now been over three months since the goalkeeper underwent back surgery.
Initially, Ter Stegen himself had estimated his recovery period to be around three months, setting his own timeline via social media shortly after the operation.
However, that timeframe has now expired, and he has still not returned to group training, although he has resumed training on the pitch.
It must be noted that the situation surrounding the goalkeeper took a controversial turn earlier in the campaign.
When the club attempted to send his medical report to La Liga for verification, Ter Stegen refused permission.
This decision effectively blocked Barça from utilising 80% of his salary to register Joan Garcia, the goalkeeper already lined up to cover his absence.
Barcelona later decided to discipline Ter Stegen, as the refusal complicated their administrative process and limited the club’s financial flexibility within the league’s strict salary rules.
Despite the controversy, Ter Stegen maintained that his own medical timeline, shared on his social media channels, should be treated as official confirmation of his recovery plan.
The origins of this dispute trace back to the pre-season, when Ter Stegen struggled with recurring back discomfort despite having finished the previous campaign strongly.
In late July, he announced his intention to undergo surgery, estimating a three-month layoff.
The operation was completed on July 29, and just days later, on August 4, the disciplinary conflict erupted after the goalkeeper declined to release his medical records to the league authorities.
For now, though, the relationship between Ter Stegen and Barcelona appears to be on track, and everything points to the fact that he might leave in January to earn a place in the German national team at the FIFA World Cup.
