Ter Stegen's Girona nightmare: German keeper faces months out with fresh injury blow
Barcelona loanee Marc-André ter Stegen could require surgery after hamstring injury against Oviedo, potentially ending his Girona stint after just two matches.
Barcelona’s on-loan goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen has suffered yet another injury setback that could send him back to the operating theatre and potentially cut short his spell at Girona after just two appearances.
Hamstring horror show
The German international picked up a hamstring injury during Girona’s match against Oviedo, with initial tests painting a bleak picture. According to reports, the injury could involve tendon damage, which would necessitate surgery and a lengthy recovery period.
Ter Stegen only joined Girona two weeks ago on loan from Barcelona, who are covering a whopping 90% of his wages. Talk about a proper mare! The custodian has played just twice for the relegation-threatened side, conceding two goals as Girona collected just a single point from those fixtures.
Bad timing all round
The news comes as a massive blow for several parties:
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Girona: Michel’s side had already declared their transfer business complete with Ter Stegen, Echeverri and Fran Beltrán. With the transfer window slamming shut, they’re now in a right pickle with limited options between the sticks.
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Ter Stegen: The German was desperate for playing time ahead of this summer’s World Cup with Germany. That dream now looks in serious danger.
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Barcelona: The Catalan giants had found a temporary solution to their goalkeeper surplus after Hansi Flick put his faith in Joan García.
What happens next?
According to Cadena Ser, the keeper could be sidelined for approximately two months, though if surgery is required, the recovery timeline could extend further.
This latest setback adds to Ter Stegen’s growing injury concerns. In recent seasons, he’s undergone two operations for back problems and another for his knee. With his Girona adventure potentially over before it really began, a return to Barcelona is now among the possibilities being discussed.
Pablo Gazzaniga, who had been Girona’s first-choice keeper for the past three years before being displaced by Ter Stegen, will likely reclaim his starting position as the club fights to avoid the drop.