Barcelona plan to register new signing using captain’s injury-enforced absence; veteran will have to wait

As reported earlier in the week, Barcelona captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen is considering undergoing surgery to address a back issue that has prevented him from participating in pre-season training thus far.

If the German international ends up getting operated on, he could be out for a period of four months, which will dent the club’s plans to offload him this summer.

At the same time, though, Ter Stegen undergoes surgery to address his back problems and is sidelined for four months or longer, Barcelona plan to take advantage of it to register players.

Joan Garcia will be registered using Ter Stegen’s absence

Indeed, as per Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona plan to activate La Liga’s long-term injury rule to register players, as they remain over the economic fair play limit and must adhere to the 1:1 rule to make new registrations.

Barcelona previously used this rule last season when Ter Stegen suffered a serious knee injury. At that time, the club used 80% of his salary to register Wojciech Szczesny, who had just come out of retirement to join the squad as an emergency signing.

In this case, should Ter Stegen’s operation result in an absence of more than four months, Barcelona would use 80% of his salary to register Joan Garcia.

The former Espanyol goalkeeper is currently the club’s marquee summer signing, having arrived for €26.3 million after the club triggered his release clause, adjusted for inflation.

To proceed with Garcia’s registration by using the long-term injury rule, Barcelona must submit the relevant medical report to La Liga within a month of Ter Stegen’s operation.

Szczesny will have to wait

Szczesny, whose contract expired on 30 June and was extended until 2027 shortly after, is also not yet registered with La Liga.

Since 80% of Ter Stegen’s salary will be allocated to Garcia, the Polish goalkeeper will have to wait until Barcelona carry out other planned financial operations to be registered.

However, as per the report, the Catalans are not concerned about the situation and are confident that the veteran star will be registered.