Marc-André ter Stegen is experiencing one of the most tense moments since he started wearing Barcelona's jersey. His refusal to sign a medical report has opened a rift between the locker room and the board. The case is no longer just about sports, but also political and deeply symbolic.
Everything began with a document that had to be sent to LaLiga to justify his long-term absence. That signature would allow the club to free up 80% of his salary (ficha) and make it easier to register Joan García. But Ter Stegen refused, prioritizing his right to medical privacy over any institutional need.
The German goalkeeper believes the club is using him as a financial tool without his explicit consent. He thinks he hasn't received the respectful treatment he deserves for his years of commitment and leadership. This decision has caused an unexpected earthquake at the top of the club.
Laporta reacts harshly and unleashes a storm
Joan Laporta didn't take long to respond with drastic measures, opening a disciplinary case against the footballer. He believes Ter Stegen is failing to fulfill a contractual obligation that benefits the team as a whole. The president has decided to act through legal channels, leaving no room for dialogue.
The club argues that the operation is similar to the one carried out with Christensen last season. In that case, the Danish player's signature allowed Dani Olmo to be registered without issues, thanks to LaLiga's validation. Laporta expected a similar response from Ter Stegen and has encountered an unexpected wall.
No one expected the real fracture would occur inside the locker room. In the offices, they took for granted that the group wouldn't mobilize in favor of the German goalkeeper. However, the opposite has happened and the internal conflict has become impossible to hide.
The locker room backs its captain unconditionally
In private, Ter Stegen has felt the support of his teammates from the very beginning of the controversy. Even players who'd had differences with him in the past have decided to close ranks with the captain. Most believe that opening a disciplinary case was an exaggerated and unnecessary reaction.
The support won't remain just words or gestures behind the scenes. In the next internal vote to choose the season's captains, Ter Stegen will be chosen again. The locker room wants to send a clear message to the board: they're not willing to leave him alone at this moment.
Internal sources state that this choice has become a matter of principle for the group. It's not just about sports leadership, but about defending a teammate's dignity in the face of unfair pressure. Ter Stegen, therefore, will emerge stronger from this crisis on a symbolic and emotional level.
An increasingly visible rift between locker room and board
Laporta hasn't managed to keep the matter quiet, as he intended at first. The decision to open a disciplinary case has spread to the club's environment and caused a wave of criticism toward the club. Many believe the conflict should've been solved with empathy and discretion, not with exemplary punishments.
This medical crisis has revealed something deeper: the deterioration of the relationship between the players and the directors. Distrust has been building up over the months and has now exploded publicly. The conflict with Ter Stegen is just the tip of the iceberg in a locker room that won't stay silent anymore.
With the season about to begin, Barça is experiencing an institutional storm that threatens to spread even further. Laporta's authority has been damaged and the locker room has made it clear they won't allow any more abuses. At Can Barça, the fire is burning and for now, there are no signs it will be extinguished.