FC Barcelona's player registration woes continue, but this time, they've found a loophole to avoid a repeat of last year's 'Olmo case'. Here's the intriguing story:
Barcelona's Financial Fair Play Struggle
Barcelona's financial struggles have led to a familiar scenario. Due to their failure to comply with the 1:1 Financial Fair Play rule, the club has resorted to a creative solution to register their new signings. And this is where it gets controversial—using long-term injuries to their advantage.
Last year, Dani Olmo's registration was secured by temporarily replacing Andreas Christensen, who was out with an injury. This year, a similar strategy was employed with Marc-Andre ter Stegen's injury, allowing the club to register Joan Garcia, a new goalkeeper.
A Problem Arises in January
However, in January, La Liga unregistered Olmo and another player, Pau Victor, causing a headache for Barcelona. The club had to appeal to the Higher Sports Council to get their players back on the field.
Avoiding a Repeat with Garcia
But here's the twist: according to SPORT, Barcelona and La Liga sources confirm that Joan Garcia's registration is secure until June, and there's no risk of a mid-season revocation. This is because, unlike with Olmo, the financial calculations work out differently with Ter Stegen's injury.
The club has cleverly ensured Garcia's availability for the entire season without the need to unregister Ter Stegen during his recovery. And this is the part most people miss—it's a delicate balance of financial regulations and player availability.
Goalkeeping Competition Ahead
Once Ter Stegen and Garcia are back to full fitness, they will compete with Wojciech Szczesny for the starting goalkeeper position. Currently, the new signing, Garcia, is the preferred choice for manager Hansi Flick.
Injury Updates: When Will They Return?
Garcia's knee meniscus injury, which required arthroscopic surgery, is expected to keep him out for 5-6 weeks. Barcelona had hoped for a quicker recovery, aiming for the Clasico on October 26, but that now seems unlikely.
Ter Stegen, on the other hand, underwent reoperation for back issues in July. The veteran goalkeeper, who was temporarily stripped of his captaincy due to a medical report dispute, is anticipated to return by late November or early December.
So, what do you think about Barcelona's creative use of the injury rule? Is it a clever strategy or a loophole that needs addressing? Feel free to share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
