German Goalkeeper Expected to Be Sidelined for Eight Months Following Tendon Rupture
Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen could be out for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery for a ruptured patella tendon in his right knee, the club announced on Monday. The injury occurred during Barcelona’s 5-1 victory over Villarreal in La Liga on Sunday, with the 32-year-old German international being stretchered off the field before halftime.
The club confirmed the extent of the injury in a statement, noting that Ter Stegen had successfully undergone surgery. Spanish media reports suggest that he could be sidelined for around eight months, likely ruling him out for the remainder of the current campaign.
“Ter Stegen has a complete rupture in the patella tendon in his right knee,” read Barcelona’s statement. The injury is a significant blow for the Catalan giants, as the goalkeeper had been a key figure in their squad.
Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick expressed his concern for Ter Stegen after the match. “I think it will be a huge injury, when he lay down on the field… you could see it directly,” Flick said.
Inaki Pena, who replaced Ter Stegen in the game, is expected to fill in for the German international. The 25-year-old made 12 La Liga appearances for Barcelona last season while Ter Stegen was sidelined with a back injury. Despite Pena’s experience, Flick indicated that it was too early to discuss whether the club would seek a new signing to cover for Ter Stegen.
“I don’t know if I like this question directly after the match… I just want to see how Marc is. He’s our captain and a very important player for us,” Flick stated. “Please understand that I don’t want to talk about that.”
Ter Stegen’s injury is also a setback for the German national team, where he had recently taken over as the first-choice goalkeeper following Manuel Neuer’s retirement from international duty. Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann expressed his support for Ter Stegen and acknowledged the impact of his absence.
“The news of Marc’s injury came as a great shock to us. He will be sorely missed in the national team, both on and off the pitch,” Nagelsmann said. “We will always be there for him on his road back.”
Germany may now look to Stuttgart’s Alexander Nuebel, on loan from Bayern Munich, or Hoffenheim veteran Oliver Baumann as potential options to fill the void left by Ter Stegen.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti also offered his sympathies, describing Ter Stegen as “one of the best goalkeepers in the world” and wishing him a swift recovery.
The injury marks a difficult period for Ter Stegen, who faced criticism just days earlier for a costly mistake in Barcelona’s 2-1 Champions League defeat to Monaco. Now, as he begins a lengthy recovery process, Barcelona and Germany will have to adapt without their star goalkeeper for the foreseeable future.
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