Goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen of Barcelona looks on in the La Liga game against Real Club Celta de Vigo at Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain, May 16, 2021. /CFP
German goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen of La Liga's Barcelona will not attend the coming Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) European Championship with Germany because of knee injury, announced Barca.
"Ter Stegen will undergo a therapeutic procedure on the patellar tendon in his right knee on Thursday in Malmo by Dr Hakan Alfredson and under the supervision of the club's medical services," said the Spanish giants in a statement.
The 29-year-old will go to Sweden later this week. He was dealing with similar injuries last season and received treatment at home before returning to Camp Nou and playing 41 games for Barcelona.
Ter Stegen will also miss Barca's last La Liga game against SD Eibar on Saturday. Considering that SD Eibar are at bottom of the league and Barca are already hopeless for this season's La Liga title after the 2-1 loss to Real Club Celta de Vigo last Sunday, the result of the last game won't matter much.
Goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen of Germany controls the ball in the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar qualifying game against North Macedonia in Duisburg, Germany, March 31, 2021. /CFP
However, ESPN revealed that Ter Stegen's injuries are unrelated to the treatment, which is not an operation, but a "complementary intervention." Ter Stegen posted similar idea on Instagram as well:
"I have decided together with the medical team of the club that I will do a complementary intervention on my knee."
Though he built his reputation early as a first-class choice between the sticks, Ter Stegen is not able to replace Bayern Munich's Manuel Neuer as Germany's No. 1.
"I'm sad that I will miss the Euro 2020 this summer with Germany. For the first time in many years, I will be a fan at home supporting my country, I hope we win it!. After the summer break, when we are back on the pitch, I hope to be able to play with fans once again, I miss it," posted Ter Stegen.
Twitter.com/DFB_Team_EN
The German Football Association (DFB) announced its national team lineup for the European Championship on Wednesday as the following:
Goalkeepers: Bernd Leno (Arsenal), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Kevin Trapp (Eintracht Frankfurt).
Defenders: Matthias Ginter (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Robin Gosens (Atalanta), Christian Günter (SC Freiburg), Marcel Halstenberg (RB Leipzig), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Lukas Klostermann (RB Leipzig), Robin Koch (Leeds United), Antonio Rüdiger (Chelsea), Niklas Süle (Bayern Munich).
Midfielders: Emre Can (Borussia Dortmund), Serge Gnabry (Bayern Munich), Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich), Ilkay Gündogan (Manchester City), Kai Havertz (Chelsea), Jonas Hofmann (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid).
Forwards: Thomas Müller (Bayern Munich), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Florian Neuhaus (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Leroy Sané (Bayern Munich), Kevin Volland (AS Monaco), Timo Werner (Chelsea).