Germany's Ter Stegen to undergo knee operation, out of Euros

Barcelona's German goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen warms up before the Spanish League football match between FC Barcelona ans RC Celta de Vigo at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on 16 May, 2021
AFP file photo

German international goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen announced Monday that he is to undergo an operation on his right knee that will rule him out of Euro 2020.

"I have decided together with the medical team of the club (Barcelona) that I will do a complementary intervention on my knee. I'm sad that I will miss the Euro 2020 this summer with Germany," the 29-year-old said on Instagram.

Barca said in a statement that Ter Stegen is scheduled to go under the knife on 20 May. It will follow a similar operation in August last year, which kept him out of action until November.

His announcement comes a day after Barcelona were officially left out of the running for the Spanish league title after a 2-1 home defeat by Celta Vigo left them seven points behind La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid with one game to play.

Ter Stegen has played just 24 times for his country as he has struggled to dislodge Bayern Munich stopper and Germany captain Manuel Neuer from the number one spot.

Euro 2020 will take place between 11 June and 11 July across Europe after being pushed back a year by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Germany are in Group F alongside world champions France, Euro 2016 winners Portugal and Hungary.