Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen hit back at suggestions he is to blame for the club's inability to register new players, insisting on Friday that his back surgery and recovery timeline were fully approved by the Spanish champions.

The 33-year-old German's three-month rehabilitation schedule has created an unexpected headache for Barcelona, who had hoped to use his injury to ease their Financial Fair Play constraints under LaLiga rules.

Barcelona had asked him to sign a long-term medical leave that would allow them to clear 80 per cent of his wages until mid-season and comply with LaLiga's Financial Fair Play rules, thereby allowing them to register new players.

But Ter Stegen's announcement on social media that he would be sidelined for only three months irked the club manage

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