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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>Ter Stegen out of action since mid-November</li><li>Will undergo back surgery</li><li>Might be sidelined until February</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

'Annoys me' - Marc-Andre ter Stegen releases statement following news Barcelona goalkeeper will undergo back surgery

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The 31-year-old has been sidelined since November 12 and subsequently withdrew from the Germany squad for the international break due to the injury. He also missed recent matches for his club which saw Inaki Pena between the sticks against Rayo Vallecano, Porto, and Atletico Madrid respectively.The decision for surgery comes as Ter Stegen has been experiencing lumbar pain and Barcelona issued a statement confirming the upcoming procedure on Tuesday.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Barcelona put out a statement that read: "First team player Marc ter Stegen will undergo a surgical procedure this week to address the lower back issues he is experiencing. Following the procedure, a new statement will be given."After the news broke, Ter Stegen took to his social media handle and wrote: "After intensive conversations with the medical team of the Club and various supporting experts, we decided to undergo a surgical procedure. The break obviously annoys me. It is the right and safe decision in order to come back in the best conditions for my Club @FCBarcelona and National Team @DFB_Team.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">After intensive conversations with the medical team of the Club and various supporting experts, we decided to undergo a surgical procedure. The break obviously annoys me. It is the right and safe decision in order to come back in the best conditions for my Club <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBarcelona?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FCBarcelona</a> and… <a href="https://t.co/gpNbkO07y9">pic.twitter.com/gpNbkO07y9</a>— Marc ter Stegen (@mterstegen1) <a href="https://twitter.com/mterstegen1/status/1732092769722601513?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

WHAT BARCELONA AND TER STEGEN SAID

The goalkeeper is <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/barcelona-marc-andre-ter-stegen-facing-back-surgery-would-rule-goalkeeper-out-two-months/bltb01a422e29f4a171" target="_blank">expected to be out for approximately two months</a>, creating a tight timeline for his potential return for the Champions League last 16 in February. He has played 17 games so far this season, 13 in the league, and four in the Champions League, keeping eight clean sheets and conceding 15 goals. In his absence, Pena has been doing a tidy job between the sticks and kept a clean sheet against <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/barcelona-player-ratings-vs-atletico-madrid-joao-felix/blt6e727b8d0996f655" target="_blank">Atletico Madrid, helping the Blaugrana register a 1-0 win</a> in their last league fixture.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Xavi rated Pena a "10-on-10" after his performance against Atletico which shows that the manager will trust the shot-stopper in the absence of Ter Stegen. "Inaki Pena is such an example. He trains hard and that’s why he performs the way he does. He gets ten out of ten for some extraordinary saves," he told reporters.Barcelona will play four more games before the January transfer window opens. If Pena continues to impress then Barca might not dip into the market for a short-term replacement for Ter Stegen. His next test will be against high-flying Girona next Sunday at Montjuic.

WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

'Annoys me' - Marc-Andre ter Stegen releases statement following news Barcelona goalkeeper will undergo back surgery | Goal.com Kenya

An annoyed Marc-Andre ter Stegen released a statement following the news that the Barcelona goalkeeper will undergo back surgery.