Barcelona suffered a devastating setback on Sunday when their captain and star goalkeeper, Marc-André ter Stegen, sustained a severe knee injury during their 5-1 La Liga victory over Villarreal.
The German international was visibly distressed as he was carried off the pitch on a stretcher in tears. The incident sent shockwaves through the club, with fears mounting over the potential long-term implications for both the player and the team’s season.
The following day, Barcelona’s medical team conducted extensive tests, which confirmed the worst: Ter Stegen had suffered a complete rupture of his patella. As a result, the goalkeeper was immediately taken in for surgery, further raising concerns that he could be sidelined for the remainder of the season.
Losing their captain and one of the world’s top goalkeepers at such a crucial point in the campaign represents a major blow for Barcelona, who have heavily relied on Ter Stegen’s leadership and shot-stopping abilities.
In light of this injury crisis, Barcelona may be forced to pursue an emergency signing to provide cover for their injured goalkeeper. One potential solution has already emerged from a familiar face—former Barcelona custodian, Claudio Bravo.
READ ALSO: Jude Bellingham Defies Medical Advice, Continues to Play
The Chilean goalkeeper, who had a successful stint with the Catalan giants from 2014 to 2016, has offered to come out of retirement to help his former club during this difficult period.
Bravo, who announced his retirement from professional football just a month ago at the age of 41, expressed his willingness to return if needed.
In a statement that immediately caught the attention of Barcelona fans, the veteran shot-stopper said, “If Barcelona calls me, I will be ready.” Bravo’s declaration of readiness signals his desire to bail the club out of this goalkeeping crisis should they decide to pursue an interim replacement.
Despite Bravo’s offer, Barcelona have yet to make any official announcement regarding plans to sign a new goalkeeper.
The club’s next match in La Liga is against Getafe on Wednesday night, and with Ter Stegen out of the lineup, the focus will be on how the team copes in his absence. It remains to be seen whether Barcelona will turn to Bravo or seek out another option to fill the void left by their captain.
As the Blaugrana face the daunting challenge of moving forward without their star goalkeeper, speculation continues to swirl about who could step in to help salvage their season. For now, Barcelona supporters are anxiously awaiting news from the club regarding their next steps in dealing with this significant injury blow.