Ter Stegen could veto Barcelona’s medical report to La Liga following back surgery | OneFootball

Barcelona could face a fresh dilemma in their efforts to register new signing after Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s back surgery.

According to SPORT, the German international has the right to withhold consent that would allow La Liga’s independent Medical Commission to access his medical records, which is an essential step if Barça want to benefit from long-term injury provisions.

Ter Stegen recently underwent surgery that is expected to keep him sidelined for around four months. However, Barcelona have not officially confirmed the recovery timeline.

The club merely stated that the goalkeeper “is out” and that “his evolution will determine his availability.”

In the coming days, Barça are expected to send the required documentation to La Liga, who will then assess whether the injury qualifies as long-term, defined as an absence of at least four months.

Consent crucial for Joan Garcia’s registration

Ter Stegen is proving to be a problem for Barcelona. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)

To proceed with this process, Barcelona must provide a crucial document, which is the goalkeeper’s signed consent to share his medical information with an external medical panel.

Without Ter Stegen’s permission, La Liga cannot verify the injury status, and Barça would be unable to take advantage of a rule that allows clubs to use 80% of an injured player’s salary to register a replacement, in this case, Joan Garcia.

While Ter Stegen’s relationship with the club has had some tension, he publicly announced his surgery and stated he would only be out for three months before the club made any official communication.

According to one of the members of this Medical Commission, Dr. Jordi Ardevol, no player has ever refused to sign this type of authorisation.

Despite the uncertainty, Barcelona remain hopeful that Ter Stegen will cooperate and that La Liga will approve their request. With Garcia waiting in the wings and a challenging season ahead, the club cannot afford further complications.