Barcelona’s season has been thrown into turmoil after the devastating injury to first-choice goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
The German suffered a severe knee injury during Sunday’s 5-1 thrashing of Villarreal, rupturing a patella tendon that will require surgery.
Ter Stegen’s injury left him writhing in pain as he was stretchered off, and Barcelona will now be without their key shot-stopper for eight crucial months, meaning he will miss the rest of the La Liga and Champions League seasons without him.
The injury has prompted emergency talks among the Barcelona hierarchy, including head coach Hansi Flick and sporting director Deco. According to ESPN, they’ll discuss whether to bring in a new goalkeeper to cover for Ter Stegen’s extended absence.
Barcelona currently have three main options: Rely on backup keeper Inaki Pena, who replaced Ter Stegen against Villarreal, sign a free agent to provide competition and support for Pena, or delay major action until the January transfer window, exploring permanent solutions then.
Pena will start in goal for their clash against Getafe on Wednesday as Flick’s men look to maintain their 100% winning start to the new LaLiga season.
