DFB goalkeeper ter Stegen out for months – Nagelsmann reacts shocked to injury drama

First it was a suspicion, now it is bitter certainty: Germany's new number one, Marc-André ter Stegen, will be out for months.

Frankfurt – Marc-André ter Stegen has torn his patellar tendon and will be out for months. FC Barcelona announced the diagnosis on Monday afternoon. The 32-year-old is scheduled to undergo surgery on Monday.

DFB keeper ter Stegen seriously injured in league match against FC Barcelona

Particularly bitter: Due to an operation on the patellar tendon, ter Stegen already missed the 2021 European Championship. After Manuel Neuer retired from the DFB team, the 32-year-old goalkeeper from FC Barcelona had risen to become the number one in the German goal. But now he will be out for many months. The patellar tendon, also known as the knee ligament, connects the lower part of the kneecap to the shinbone.

The DFB goalkeeper had jumped up after a corner shortly before the end of the first half in the match against FC Villarreal on Sunday evening and, without any influence from the opposition, had buckled his right knee as he landed. His own and opposing team-mates immediately signaled that medical help was needed. The goalkeeper was first treated on the field for several minutes and then carried off the field on a stretcher. Even then, it was assumed that the injury was more serious. Now the sad certainty.

National coach Nagelsmann shocked after DFB keeper’s serious injury

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick also assumed that he had suffered a serious injury directly after the party on the DAZN microphone. “You could see it straight away when he was lying on the field.”

National coach Julian Nagelsmann was also shocked. “The news of Marc's injury was a big shock for us. We will miss him very much in the national team on and off the pitch. We wish Marc all the best for the operation and a good and quick recovery. “We will always be there for him on his way back,” the DFB coach said in the Picture Quoted.

After all, the 2026 World Cup is only in two years, and ter Stegen will be fit again by then. However, he will probably miss this season completely; according to several media reports, his absence will be around eight months. (msb)