Barcelona, Germany goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen is set to be sidelined for several months following a serious knee injury that necessitates surgery. The club announced on Monday that he suffered a “complete rupture” of a tendon in his right knee.
During a commanding 5-1 victory against Villarreal in La Liga on Sunday, Ter Stegen was forced to leave the pitch on a stretcher after the unfortunate incident occurred.
The injury transpired when Ter Stegen’s right knee buckled awkwardly as he attempted to catch a high cross just before halftime.
Barcelona confirmed that Ter Stegen would undergo surgery on Monday, following tests that revealed a complete rupture of the patella tendon in his right knee.
This setback comes at a pivotal moment for Ter Stegen, who had recently been named the starting goalkeeper for the German national team after serving as Manuel Neuer’s backup for several years.
Neuer’s retirement from international soccer post-Euro 2024 opened the door for Ter Stegen, who has made 42 appearances for Germany but has yet to participate in a major tournament. Coach Julian Nagelsmann had indicated that Ter Stegen would be the first choice moving forward, but he only managed to play two Nations League matches before this injury.
“The news of Marc’s injury was a big shock for us,” Nagelsmann expressed on Monday. “We will miss him greatly, both on and off the field. Our thoughts are with Marc as he prepares for surgery, and we wish him a swift recovery. He will have our unwavering support throughout his rehabilitation.”
In light of Ter Stegen’s absence, Germany’s latest squad features backup goalkeepers Alexander Nübel from Stuttgart and Oliver Baumann from Hoffenheim, neither of whom has yet made an appearance for the national team.
