Barcelona appeared ready to allow Ilkay Gundogan to leave on a free transfer, potentially paving the way for his return to Manchester City.
Reports from Spain over the weekend suggested that Gundogan had submitted a transfer request, amid growing tensions behind the scenes at the Catalan club.
The midfielder, who joined Barcelona in 2023 after his contract with Manchester City expired, is now heavily linked with a move back to his former club.
According to the latest updates from football transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano, Barcelona has decided to let Gundogan go for free, even though he still has two years remaining on his contract. Manchester City is reportedly in discussions with Gundogan’s agent, who is currently in the UK, to finalize the remarkable return to the Etihad Stadium.
Romano confirmed the developments on X, stating, “Understand Barcelona have 100% decided to let Ilkay Gündogan leave for free. Manchester City are working on details of the deal with Gündogan’s agent now in the UK to get the comeback done. As revealed earlier, Pep Guardiola said YES. Up to Gündo’s green light.”
City’s manager, Pep Guardiola, has already given his approval for the move, and some reports suggest he has personally spoken to Gundogan.
The final decision now rests with the player, who is also attracting interest from other Premier League clubs, as well as teams in Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
Gundogan’s anticipated departure from Barcelona comes after just one season, during which he made 51 appearances across all competitions.
Unfortunately, he leaves without securing any silverware during his short stint in Spain.
This is in stark contrast to his time at Manchester City, where he won an impressive 14 trophies over seven successful years, including being named captain for the 2022/23 season, his last before moving to Barcelona.
As Gundogan’s exit looms, Barcelona is facing additional challenges. The club is struggling with financial difficulties, which have prevented them from officially registering new signing Dani Olmo with La Liga.
They are also reportedly eyeing potential moves for Athletic Club’s Nico Williams and AC Milan’s Rafael Leao as they navigate a challenging period both on and off the pitch.
