Ter Stegen defends surgery timeline as Barcelona face player registration woes

Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen hit back at suggestions he is to blame for the club's inability to register new players, insisting on Friday that his back surgery and recovery timeline were fully approved by the Spanish champions.

The 33-year-old German's three-month rehabilitation schedule has created an unexpected headache for Barcelona, who had hoped to use his injury to ease their Financial Fair Play constraints under LaLiga rules.

Barcelona had asked him to sign a long-term medical leave that would allow them to clear 80 per cent of his wages until mid-season and comply with LaLiga's Financial Fair Play rules, thereby allowing them to register new players.

But Ter Stegen's announcement on social media that he would be sidelined for only three months irked the club management as LaLiga rules require a player to remain out of action for at least four months to be considered a long-term injury.

"The decision to undergo surgery was made after consultation with medical professionals and fully approved by the club," Ter Stegen said in a statement on Instagram, a day after he was stripped of the club's captaincy.

"Moreover, I announced publicly the minimum recovery timing that I shall need after that, which had been communicated to me by most reputed experts and always in coordination with the club."

SEASON STARTS AUGUST 15

Barca signed 24-year-old goalkeeper Joan Garcia from local rivals Espanyol last month while Marcus Rashford was signed on loan from Manchester United.

However, both players are yet to be registered with the new LaLiga season kicking off on August 15.

"I would also like to clarify - in light of certain speculation - that all of the club's signings and contract renewals were completed prior to my