A leading member of the first-team ranks at La Liga giants Barcelona is set to be forced under the knife over the days ahead.
The player in question? Marc-André ter Stegen.
The subject of goalkeeper Ter Stegen’s fitness has of course emerged as a prominent talking point in Catalunya’s capital over the last week.
This comes with the German having been unable to link up with the rest of Hansi Flick’s squad in pre-season training, owing to a back concern.
The possibility of Ter Stegen undergoing surgery to solve the issue, in turn, had been under discussion between club and player for some time now.
And as alluded to above, on Thursday, the 33-year-old has himself confirmed his decision to go under the knife.
As per a statement across Ter Stegen’s social media platforms:
‘Dear Culers, I wear the colors and jersey of FC Barcelona with great pride, whether on or off the pitch, in moments of success and in difficult times. Today is a personally difficult day for me. Physically and athletically, I feel in very good shape, although unfortunately I am not free from pain. After intensive discussions with the FC Barcelona medical team and external experts, the quickest and safest way for me to fully recover is through back surgery. After my last operation on my back, I returned to the pitch after 66 days—almost two months; this time, the doctors believe about three months will be necessary as a precaution, to avoid any risks. Emotionally, it hurts a lot not being able to support the team during this time. Fortunately, the rehabilitation is manageable and the road back is clear. I will keep you updated on my recovery and I sincerely want to thank you all, dear Culers, for always being by my side.
‘Don’t worry—I’ll be back!
‘Yours, Marc.’
Conor Laird – GSFN
