The new "power struggle" at Barcelona unfolds as Ter Stegen requires surgery and a three-month recovery, complicating the registration of new signings.

Background: Barcelona's former starting goalkeeper, Ter Stegen, suffered a serious injury last season. The club signed the retired Szczęsny on a free transfer as an emergency solution, and he performed admirably, helping Barcelona secure the domestic treble (La Liga + Copa del Rey + Spanish Supercup). This summer, Barcelona has also signed Spanish goalkeeper Joan García. According to Flick's tactical needs, Joan García will be the starting goalkeeper for Barcelona, with Szczęsny as the second choice, while the recovered Ter Stegen will only be the third choice.

Without any official announcement from the club or the medical staff, Ter Stegen took to social media to declare:Due to my inability to fully alleviate the pain, I have decided to undergo back surgery again, with a recovery time of three months.

These two key points are significant: first, the player's surgery and recovery time are typically announced by the club first; second, Ter Stegen's self-declaration, stating three months, complicates matters. This has turned into a new power struggle for Barcelona. Why? Because La Liga rules allow clubs to exempt a player's salary from the total wage bill if that player suffers a significant injury requiring a four-month absence. However, Ter Stegen claims he will only need three months, making it impossible for Barcelona to register new signings.

According to Esport3, the club's medical department assesses that since Ter Stegen's injury is a recurrence of a previous issue in a surgically treated area,the actual recovery time will be between four to five months.

Ter Stegen is one of the highest-paid players at Barcelona. The club could have utilized La Liga rules to register new signings (Joan García, Rashford), but now they face complications because Ter Stegen claims he will only need three months to recover, putting Barcelona in a tight spot. This indicates a significant rift between Ter Stegen and the club, especially with three years left on his contract.