Barcelona has taken the captain’s armband away from Marc-André ter Stegen and launched disciplinary action against the goalkeeper. The move came after the German reportedly refused to allow his medical records to be sent to La Liga. That refusal blocks the club from reducing part of his salary under Financial Fair Play rules. What started as an internal issue has now blown up into a public power struggle between one of the locker room leaders and the board.
By removing him as captain, Barça made its position pretty clear and did it in a way that’s not common for the club. Ronald Araújo is stepping into the role, just days before the Joan Gamper Trophy match, when the captain usually speaks to the fans. This time, that won’t be Ter Stegen and that says a lot.
A decision that shakes the club’s finances
This all kicked off with a no. Ter Stegen’s sidelined again and will need back surgery, which means at least three months of recovery. For the Barça board, that presented a potential workaround: send the keeper’s medical reports to La Liga and try to reduce his wage load. If league doctors confirmed he’d miss four months or more, the club could write off up to 80% of his salary from the Fair Play books. That would create room to register new players.
But Ter Stegen didn’t sign off on the release. According to Mundo Deportivo, he made his stance known early on, but he wasn’t going to approve it. Officially, he didn’t offer a reason. Internally, though, the club saw the move as a strategic block, possibly aimed at stopping the registration of newly signed keepers like Joan García and Szczesny.
That interpretation might seem harsh, but it reflects the club’s current mindset. Barça believes Ter Stegen acted in bad faith. Not just because he didn’t cooperate, but because he chose this moment, when every decision matters, to dig in. Now, the legal department is exploring ways to work around the situation and stay within league rules. Still, the fallout is already there for everyone to see.
The trust seems gone
It’s worth pointing out: Barça has used this exact same salary reduction system before. Last season, when Christensen got hurt, the club used the rule to deduct part of his wages and register Dani Olmo. Even Ter Stegen himself has benefited from past financial decisions made by the front office, especially during contract renewals. So with finances still tight, the board expected more flexibility this time.
But this story isn’t just about money anymore. Ter Stegen has been with Barça for years. He’s worn the armband, played a leadership role, and his current contract runs through 2028. Not long ago, he was seen as untouchable. The fact that the club is now handling this out in the open suggests something deeper broke down.