Here’s Barcelona’s official statement: “FC Barcelona hereby announces that LaLiga’s Medical Committee has ruled that goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen’s injury meets the long-term injury criteria established by current regulations. “The club will proceed tomorrow to immediately formalise the registration of player Joan García.”

In the ugly battle between Barcelona’s board and the club’s captain Marc-André ter Stegen, it was the German goalkeeper who swallowed his pride to bring an end to an increasingly unseemly saga.

The Catalan team is facing serious problems to register their new players and the departure of the German would be essential.