Marc-André ter Stegen, The incumbent goalkeeper and captain of FC Barcelona has taken a big step in his recovery by retraining partially with the team this Monday, March 31, 2025, at the Joan Gamper Sports City. The German keeper suffered a complete break from the Rotulian tendon on the right knee on September 22, 2024, during a LaLiga match against Villarreal (1-5). This injury, one of the most serious that a football player can face, kept him away from the playing fields for more than six months, losing 38 official matches, including crucial matches in LaLiga, the King’s Cup and the UEFA Champions League.
The news of his partial return to training has been enthusiastically received by both the club and the fans, especially because Barcelona, under the direction of Hansi Flick, leads LaLiga with 46 points after 29 days and has already secured a place in the top 8 of the Champions League. However, his return also raises questions about his physical condition, the time that will take him to be 100% and his position as headline in front of Wojciech Szczęsny, who has been surrendering to an exceptional level in his absence.
When is Ter Stegen expected to be 100%?
The complete breakage of the Rotulian tendon is an injury that usually requires between 6 and 9 months to recover. However, some experts, such as Dr. Ripoll, suggest that we should not set a deadline less than 10 months to ensure a full recovery, which could mean that their total return would be withdrawn until July 2025. Despite this, Ter Stegen has shown a faster recovery than was expected, thanks to an innovative treatment led by Dr. Robert Soler. This treatment accelerates recovery by allowing you to perform loading and resistance exercises before usual, as well as helping to regenerate the tendon in the long term.
Sources close to the club, according to reports of World Sports and Sport, indicate that Ter Stegen could be ready to retrain with the team in mid-April, which would be approximately in three weeks since today, March 31. This could mean that he returns to the competition at the end of April or early May 2025, which would allow him to play the last 5 games of LaLiga EA Sports (which ends on May 25) and, potentially, the semifinals ( April 29 and May 6) and the final of the Champions League (May 31), if Barcelona advances.
Being 100% not only means being physically recovered, but also having regained the competitive rhythm and confidence under the sticks, something that could take longer. Since Ter Stegen has had previous problems on the knee and other injuries (such as a discal hernia in the 2023/24 season), the club is prioritizing a smooth recovery to avoid relapse. It is likely that, even if you can play in May, you will not reach your best level until the pre-season of the 2025/26 season, around July or August 2025.
Wojciech Szczęsny and his Performance in 2025
The Polish goalkeeper who joined Barcelona in October 2024, after the injury of Ter Stegen, has been a discovery. Szczęsny, who had hung the boots in August 2024 after an outstanding career in the Juventus, decided to accept the offer of Barcelona to cover the descent of Ter Stegen until 30 June 2025. After a brief period of adaptation to recover his physical form, Szczęsny made his debut on January 3, 2025 in a match of the King’s Cup against the Barbastro, and quickly won the title post, leaving Iñaki Peña on the bench.
Since taking command of the goalie, Szczęsny has played 18 official matches in 2025, and its record is impressive: 16 wins and 2 draws, without knowing the defeat. In addition, it has maintained its goal at zero on 5 occasions, showing security, experience and reflections at crucial times. Its performance has been so solid that Barcelona is considering extending its contract until 2026, although Szczęsny has expressed doubts about its future if it cannot be the undisputed holder.
Szczęsny has not only provided defensive stability, but has also adapted well to the Hansi Flick system, which values the goalkeepers with good footplay, one of the qualities of Ter Stegen. However, at the age of 34, Szczęsny does not have the same long-term potential as Ter Stegen, who at the age of 32 is still considered the goalkeeper of the future of the club, with a contract extending to 2028.
Will Ter Stegen win the Titularity to Szczęsny?
The question about Ter Stegen’s ownership in front of Szczęsny is a tactical and emotional dilemma for Hansi Flick. Let’s analyze the key factors:
- Hierarchy and Rol de Ter Stegen: He is the first captain of Barcelona and has been the indisputable holder during the last decade, accumulating 16 titles with the club, including a Zamora prize in the 2022/23 season. Its importance goes beyond sports: it is a leader in the wardrobe and a key piece in the balloon exit, a fundamental aspect in the style of Flick. If Ter Stegen returns to 100%, it is almost certain that he will recover his post, as happened with Thibaut Courtois in Real Madrid in 2024, when Ancelotti returned the title to the Champions League final after a long injury, despite the good performance of Andriy Lunin.
- Performance of Szczęsny: The Polish has proven to be a reliable replacement, with an impeccable record in 2025. His experience in clubs such as Juventus and his ability to handle the pressure on a large team have been fundamental to keeping Barcelona in the struggle for all titles. However, Szczęsny was signed as a temporary solution, and his role has always been seen as secondary to Ter Stegen. If Szczęsny continues to surrender at this level, Flick could face criticism if he decides to leave it on the bench, especially if the team is at a crucial time of the season, like a semifinal or final of the Champions League.
- Flick management: Hansi Flick praised the progress of Ter Stegen, pointing out on February 8 that “it’s pretty good” and that “everything’s on the right track.” However, he has also backed Szczęsny, who has gained the confidence of the technician and the hobby. Flick must balance the Ter Stegen hierarchy with the Szczęsny shape moment. One possibility is that Ter Stegen returns gradually, playing minutes in less demanding LaLiga matches to recover rhythm, while Szczęsny stays in key matches, like the Champions. However, if Ter Stegen is fully recovered by May, it is likely that Flick will return the title, especially in a final hypothetical of Champions, where the German experience and leadership could be decisive.
- EUFA Regulation: A key aspect to keep in mind is that Ter Stegen was excluded from the Champions League list due to his injury, and instead he enrolled Szczęsny. According to article 31.14 of the UEFA Champions League Regulation, Barcelona has the option to reintegrate Ter Stegen if it is in a position to play. However, this would mean that they would have to dispense with Szczęsny at least 24 hours before the next match in which Ter Stegen is available. This complicates Flick’s decision a little, as losing Szczęsny at such a crucial time could be a risk if Ter Stegen is not 100%.
Extended Analysis
The return of Ter Stegen is an excellent news for Barcelona, but it also presents a challenge for Hansi Flick regarding the management of the lottery. At the age of 32, Ter Stegen has the potential to remain the club’s headguard for several more seasons, and his contract until 2028 demonstrates the confidence that Barcelona has in it. His ability to play with his feet, his safety under the sticks and his leadership make him a key piece in a team that aspires to conquer both LaLiga and the Champions League. However, their history of injuries (rodilla, lumbar problems) and the severity of their last ailment require caution. A relapse could be devastating for both your career and your team.
On the other hand, Szczęsny has exceeded all expectations. Its impressive record of 18 matches without losing in 2025 has been fundamental to maintaining Barcelona’s defensive stability at a complicated time. However, at the age of 34, Szczęsny is not a long-term solution, and its role has always been temporary. If Ter Stegen returns to 100%, it is hard to imagine that Flick does not return the title, especially in the most important matches. The hobby and the club see Ter Stegen as the goalkeeper of the present and the future, and their status as captain reinforces this perception.
A likely scenario is that Ter Stegen returns at the end of April or early May, playing a few minutes in the last LaLiga games to regain his competitive rhythm. If Barcelona arrives at the semifinals or at the end of the Champions League, Flick could decide to keep Szczęsny on the lottery to avoid risking the stability of the team. But if Ter Stegen proves to be 100%, it is almost certain that he will recover his post, especially in an end. In the long term, Szczęsny could accept a secondary role if the club offers you a renovation, but if you are looking to be the undisputed headline, you might consider looking for an exit in the summer of 2025.
Conclusion
Marc-André ter Stegen’s return is getting closer and closer, with the expectation that he will return to full training with the group in mid-April 2025 and possibly resume competitive action at the end of April or early May. However, achieving 100% of its physical and competitive capacities could lead to the pre-season of the 2025/26 season, that is, around July or August 2025, to ensure a safe recovery. As far as title is concerned, Ter Stegen has all the winnings to recover it once it is completely ready, considering its role as captain and its tactical importance in the Flick scheme. However, the impressive performance of Wojciech Szczęsny, who has maintained a streak of 18 matches without losing in 2025, could complicate this transition, especially if Barcelona is at a crucial time of the season. Flick’s management will be fundamental to balancing the Ter Stegen hierarchy with the good time shaped by Szczęsny, ensuring that the team maintains its competitiveness in the final straight of the season.
