Official: Barcelona goalkeeper Ter Stegen undergoes surgery successfully

Although FC Barcelona were able to maintain their winning run in the league and add another three points to their La Liga tally with the win over Villarreal last night, it still turned out to be a rather sad affair for the Blaugranes and their fans as the starting goalkeeper, Marc Andre Ter Stegen, suffered a serious injury.

The German had to leave the pitch on a stretcher after he tore his patellar tendon of the right leg at the end of the first half. Detailed tests were then undertaken on him, first at a hospital in Villarreal, and then at the medical facilities of the Ciutat Esportiva once he had returned to Barcelona by road.

After detailed tests carried out this morning, the goalkeeper decided to undergo immediate surgery today, on Monday. Now, FC Barcelona have officially announced that this medical intervention took place successfully. The full statement published by the club went as:

“The first team player Marc ter Stegen has undergone a successful surgical intervention on the patella tendon injury in his right knee by Dr. Joan Carles Monllau under the supervision of the Club’s Medical Services at Barcelona Hospital. The player is unavailable for selection and his recovery will dictate his return.”

Thus, Ter Stegen has taken the first step in his recovery process with this surgery. He is expected to now remain on the sidelines for around seven to eight months, and will definitely be missed by Hansi Flick as he is not only his side’s starting goalkeeper, but also one of the leaders of this dressing room.

However, to mitigate his temporary loss, the Catalans are now actively seeking a replacement, as the German’s current backups lack the club’s confidence. Among the free-agent options, Claudio Bravo—who won the UEFA Champions League with Barcelona in 2015—and Keylor Navas, a three-time UCL winner with Real Madrid, have emerged as notable candidates to bolster the squad.