Injured Barcelona captain can recover significantly earlier than expected with a novel treatment method | OneFootball

The 2024-25 season has not even reached its halfway point yet, but FC Barcelona have already seen several of their players getting serious injuries.

Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen, having missed significant game time, are getting nearer to their returns, but two other important players Marc Bernal and Marc Andre Ter Stegen are expected to spend the next few months on the sidelines as well, and it was believed that they might not be able to play again this season.

However, according to SPORT, this might not be the case with the German goalkeeper, who can return as soon as April or May, thanks to a novel way of treatment that he is undergoing.

The report mentions that the German is going through a stem cell treatment with Dr. Robert Soler, who is a pioneer in this field and who is based in Barcelona. Although expensive, this treatment method has a 100% success rate.

With this treatment, an athlete can return to his load and endurance work significantly earlier than with other forms of treatment. Furthermore, it also provides the advantage of regenerating a ruptured tendon for life, which can particularly benefit Ter Stegen, keeping in view his earlier problems with his knee.

At 32, the German still has some years to play at the highest level, and he remains important for both his German national team and Barcelona. Although the Catalans signed Wojciech Szczesny to replace him for this season, Deco recently indicated that they are not looking for a long-term replacement for Ter Stegen.

Similarly, after Neuer’s retirement, Ter Stegen was expected to be the starting goalkeeper for Julian Nagelsmann’s German national team, and the goalkeeper has also visited the national team camp recently to see the training sessions and meet with his international teammates.

The Sporting Director of the German Football Association has already made it clear that they are counting on Ter Stegen for the upcoming 2026 World Cup. However, it remains to be seen when the German shot-stopper will return to the field.