Smile, Barça! Ter Stegen takes part in training with the group

Great news for FC Barcelona. The recovery training held this Monday at the Joan Gamper Sports City featured a luxury participant: Marc-André ter Stegen. The German goalkeeper, who is recovering from a complete rupture of the patellar tendon in his right knee suffered on September 22, 2024, during the match against Villarreal CF (1-5), took part in part of the training session with the group.

It is worth remembering that, not long ago, FC Barcelona released images showing Ter Stegen doing individualized work on the field, with strength, stability, and ball handling exercises. In fact, he was seen making some stellar saves and demonstrating his reflexes against shots from the goalkeeping coach, José Ramón de la Fuente.

Seeing him back in action is extremely positive news and starts to indicate that his return could happen before the end of the 2024-25 season. It is important to emphasize that, due to the severity of the injury, which even required corrective surgery performed on September 23 by Dr. Joan Carles Monllau, a recovery period of approximately seven to eight months was estimated. However, after 190 days of recovery (six months and a few days) and having missed 38 matches, his progress is encouraging for the culé team.

Barcelona will not rush Marc-André ter Stegen's return

Now it remains to be determined when Marc-André ter Stegen will return to action with FC Barcelona, a return that, on the other hand, is not intended to be rushed. Firstly, because the goal is for the '1' German to return at 100% of his physical capabilities, especially considering that he has suffered several injuries in that area in the past.

Secondly, due to the high level that his substitute, Wojciech Szczęsny, is showing. After a necessary adaptation period, the Polish goalkeeper is in remarkable form, providing security and experience to the blue and garnet strength. His performance has been supported by both statistics and, why not, by the numbers: since 'Tek' took over the goal for FC Barcelona, the team has not lost (18 matches, 16 wins, and two draws). These factors mean that, even when Ter Stegen is fully recovered, he will not find it easy to regain his starting position immediately.