After days of high tension and drama, Barcelona and Marc-Andre ter Stegen finally made peace on Friday night.
Barça had stripped Ter Stegen of the captaincy over his refusal to sign the authorisation for his medical report to be sent to La Liga’s Medical Commission, which must determine the length of his absence following lumbar surgery.
A day later, the German goalkeeper issued a statement confirming his willingness to co-operate with the club and ended up reversing his decision. In return, the club restored his captain’s armband.
Laporta-Ter Stegen meeting turned things around
Now, according to MARCA, the turning point came during a face-to-face meeting between Ter Stegen and Joan Laporta.
The Barcelona president had been deeply upset and frustrated by the goalkeeper’s refusal to sign the document, which would clarify whether his absence qualifies as a long-term injury and thus allow the club to use part of his salary to register Joan Garcia.
Laporta and the club’s executives were angered enough to open a disciplinary case and strip him of the armband.
It was an all-out standoff.
But on Friday, the two sides moved closer. Laporta spoke directly with Ter Stegen in person, and both men laid everything on the table. Everyone recognised that prolonging the dispute benefited no one, and that the club itself would suffer most.
The conversation was decisive. Shortly afterwards, Ter Stegen issued a statement on Friday afternoon announcing that he had changed his mind and would sign the authorisation.
By midnight, Barcelona confirmed the signature had been completed and that the captaincy had been restored.
Will Ter Stegen address the fans at the Gamper Trophy?
With the captain’s armband back, Ter Stegen would normally address the fans during Sunday’s Joan Gamper Trophy contest, when the team is presented ahead of the match against Cesc Fabregas’ Como at Estadi Johan Cruyff.
However, it remains uncertain whether the German will attend, as he is still recovering from back surgery. The events of the past week could see him stay away from the public eye – a decision that, as of now, has not been finalised.
