Under pressure, the goalkeeper is refusing to sign a document that would allow Barça to inform LaLiga's Medical Committee about the injury suffered by the German something that would enable the club to use 80% of his salary for financial fair play purposes and thus register new signing Joan García.

Marc-André ter Stegen and FC Barcelona appear to be heading toward a serious internal conflict, one that could have significant sporting, financial, and legal ramifications.

According to a detailed report published on Tuesday by Mundo Deportivo, the long-serving German goalkeeper is now expected to face formal disciplinary proceedings after refusing to sign an official document related to his current injury status a document that would have allowed Barcelona to gain crucial financial relief under LaLiga’s salary cap regulations.

The roots of the conflict date back to the 2023/24 season, when Ter Stegen missed a large portion of the campaign due to a serious back injury. Although he returned to action toward the end of the season, the issue flared up again during pre-season. In late July, he underwent another surgical procedure on his lumbar spine, this time more invasive, in the hopes of solving the recurring problem once and for all. Initially, both the club and the player expected a recovery period of around three months, setting a potential return date for October.

However, club doctors and sporting directors have since reevaluated the situation and believe that the recovery could be significantly longer than initially thought. According to internal estimates, Ter Stegen might not return to competitive action before early 2026, making it potentially a full-season absence. That assessment prompted Barcelona to prepare a medical report for submission to LaLiga’s Medical Committee, which would confirm the player's unavailability for a period exceeding five months.

Such a ruling would be hugely important for the club’s financial planning. Under LaLiga’s rules, if a player is officially declared out for five months or longer, the club can count 80% of that player's salary as “non-active” for the purposes of calculating financial fair play (FFP) limits. That salary relief could then be redirected toward registering other players, including new signings.

The main beneficiary of that maneuver would be Joan García, a 23-year-old Spanish goalkeeper signed from Espanyol this summer for €25 million. Barcelona sees García as a key addition to their goalkeeping department and a long-term investment, but because of their ongoing salary cap issues, he has not yet been registered with LaLiga. Unlocking the funds through the Ter Stegen injury clause would immediately solve this problem.

But there’s one catch: due to Spain’s strict medical privacy laws, the player himself must authorize the release of his medical data to LaLiga. Barcelona prepared the necessary documents and presented them to Ter Stegen for signature but the German international refused. According to sources close to the situation, Ter Stegen is unhappy with how the club has handled communications surrounding his injury, and he reportedly believes the official recovery timeline listed in the report exceeding five months was never clearly discussed with him beforehand.

This refusal has led to a standoff. The club considers his action to be obstructive, particularly given the importance of the document for the registration of Joan García and potentially other players, such as Marcus Rashford or Roony Bardghji, who have also been linked with summer moves to the Camp Nou. Internally, Barcelona views this as an act that undermines the collective good of the team and is preparing to open disciplinary proceedings.

The club's stance is that while they fully respect Ter Stegen’s right to medical privacy, the refusal to cooperate on such a critical matter especially one that could help the team during a period of transition and rebuilding is unacceptable. The expectation is that the club will first attempt one last round of negotiations before taking the matter further. However, if no resolution is found, a formal disciplinary procedure could be triggered, which might include fines or other internal sanctions.

The situation has also spilled over into the court of public opinion. On social media, fans are divided. Some support Ter Stegen’s decision to protect his personal rights and not allow the club to pressure him into agreeing to a longer-than-expected medical timeline. Others argue that, as a senior player and team leader, he should put the interests of the squad above personal concerns, especially when those interests involve registering a much-needed reinforcement in goal.

The timing could not be worse. Barcelona is still navigating severe financial constraints, with LaLiga keeping a close eye on their compliance with economic regulations. The club’s ability to register new signings depends not only on generating income and offloading players but also on maximizing every possible salary relief mechanism available including long-term injury exceptions.

In the meantime, Barça’s goalkeeper rotation is in limbo. Wojciech Szczęsny, recently signed from Juventus, is expected to be the new starter, while Iñaki Peña remains as a backup. Joan García, however, remains unregistered and ineligible to feature in official competitions. The uncertainty surrounding Ter Stegen’s status also makes long-term planning more difficult for manager Hansi Flick, who had hoped to count on clarity in the goalkeeping department early in his tenure.

This saga also raises broader questions about how elite football clubs manage sensitive medical situations and balance individual rights with team needs. While player privacy must be protected, situations like this where legal rights conflict with collective sporting goals show just how delicate those boundaries can be.

As it stands, Barcelona must tread carefully. Escalating the situation could damage a longstanding relationship with one of their most loyal and high-profile players. On the other hand, failure to act might jeopardize their ability to compete in the opening weeks of the new season.