Barcelona and Marc-Andre ter Stegen could extend their long goodbye on into 2026.
The pair have agreed to put their differences aside ahead of the new La Liga campaign following weeks of chaos in Catalonia.
The club's early summer move to Joan Garcia triggered a furious response from their captain after the Germany international had battled back from a serious knee injury last season.
Barcelona utilised La Liga's infamous 'salary space' rule to register Wojciech Szczesny as a replacement for Ter Stegen at the end of 2025 and they had hoped to repeat the trick with Garcia.
Amid his frustration at being 'replaced' as No.1, Ter Stegen confirmed his intention to undergo back surgery in July, but claimed his recovery time would be around three months.
That would block the club from using his salary space to register Garcia as a La Liga player and the subsequent fall out saw him temporarily stripped of the club captaincy.
Ter Stegen initially refused to allow the club to send his medical report to La Liga - with Barcelona hoping for a five-month lay-off being confirmed - to use 80% of his wages on Garcia.
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The former Borussia Monchengladbach star has since relented, and Barcelona are awaiting La Liga's final call on the matter, with Ter Stegen retaking the armband.
He spoke to the Barcelona fans at the Estadi Johan Cruyff ahead of their 5-0 win over Como in Joan Gamper Trophy final last weekend but his chances of a return when fit look slim.
As per Diario AS, Ter Stegen remains angry with the club and president Joan Laporta, over their handling of the matter - as he called for everyone to 'move forward'.
The winter transfer market will reopen the exit door, with Ter Stegen expected to be fully recovered by January, and a loan offer could be a perfect exit option.
Julian Nagelsmann has already warned that his FIFA 2026 World Cup spot with the German national side is under threat if he's not first-choice at club level - and that could force a move to Turkey, Saudi Arabia or back to Germany.
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