Ilkay Gündogan, once a revered figure at Manchester City, is now at the center of a significant transfer saga that has taken the football world by storm. After a challenging year at Barcelona, the German-Turkish midfielder is reportedly eyeing a return to the Premier League, where he previously enjoyed great success. This potential move comes after a series of events that have cast doubt on his future with the Catalan giants.
Falling Out of Favor at Barcelona
Barcelona’s start to the new La Liga season seemed promising, with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Valencia. Yet, the headlines were dominated by troubling news about Gündogan. Despite being one of Germany’s most experienced players and the captain of the national team, Gündogan found himself excluded from both the starting lineup and the bench by Barcelona’s new coach, Hansi Flick. This omission was particularly shocking given Gündogan’s status and the fact that he had only joined Barcelona a year earlier. Experts from the mostbet az website are already saying that this is a complete failure of the Kaatalan club’s management
Gündogan, understandably upset by this snub, quickly made it known that he wanted to leave Barcelona. The 33-year-old midfielder, who still has a contract with the club until June 2025 with a release clause of €15 million, was reportedly seeking an immediate transfer. His dissatisfaction with the situation was palpable, and his decision to request a move was a clear indication that he no longer felt valued at the Camp Nou.
In addition to his club woes, Gündogan also announced his retirement from international football. Having represented Germany for 13 years, during which he earned 83 caps and scored 19 goals, this decision marked the end of an illustrious international career. His departure from the national team was somewhat expected due to his age, but his desire to leave Barcelona was a surprising twist, especially given his enthusiasm about joining the club just a year earlier.
A Surprising Turn of Events
Last season, Gündogan was a vital player for Barcelona, missing only two La Liga matches and contributing significantly with 5 goals and 14 assists. He seamlessly filled the void left by former captain Sergio Busquets and quickly became a key figure in the team’s midfield. However, it seems that his relationship with the new coach was not as strong as it needed to be.
Reports suggest that Hansi Flick, a former Bayern Munich coach, had reservations about Gündogan’s age and his perceived decline in pace and agility. Although Flick publicly attributed Gündogan’s exclusion from the Valencia match to a minor injury sustained in a recent game against AS Monaco, insiders claimed that the decision was more about the coach’s preference for younger, more dynamic players.
Compounding the issue was Gündogan’s apparent difficulty in integrating into the Barcelona squad. While the club provided him with a luxurious lifestyle, including a hefty €20 million salary and a comfortable home, it seems that Gündogan and his wife felt less at home in Barcelona than they had in Manchester. Rumors of tension within the squad began to circulate, with some sources alleging that Gündogan’s high standards and demanding nature were creating friction among his teammates. Although these claims remain unconfirmed, his exclusion from the squad certainly fueled speculation.
Another factor in Gündogan’s potential departure is the arrival of Dani Olmo, the European champion and a highly talented attacking midfielder. Although Olmo does not play in the same position as Gündogan, his presence in the squad, coupled with Gündogan’s high salary, made the veteran midfielder’s continued role in the starting lineup untenable. Given Barcelona’s ongoing financial struggles, the club’s management may have viewed Gündogan as an expendable asset, leading to their willingness to part ways with him after just one season.
A Return to Familiar Grounds
The first club to express interest in Gündogan was Fenerbahçe, a move that would have seen the midfielder return to his Turkish roots. However, despite his strong ties to Turkey and his public support for President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Gündogan seemed reluctant to make the move to Istanbul. Instead, the prospect of returning to Manchester City quickly gained traction.
Reports emerged that Gündogan had been in contact with Pep Guardiola, his former coach at City, who was open to the idea of reuniting with his former star. While Gündogan may no longer hold the same key role he once did, he would still be a valuable squad player, particularly in a team as deep and competitive as Manchester City. After all, Gündogan spent seven successful years at the club, and Guardiola is well aware of how to best utilize the midfielder’s skills.
Barcelona, for their part, seemed willing to facilitate Gündogan’s return to Manchester, possibly even waiving the transfer fee out of respect for the player who had played a crucial role in their treble-winning campaign in 2022/23. The only potential stumbling block is the reaction of Manchester City fans, some of whom may still harbor resentment towards Gündogan for leaving the club in the first place. However, if Gündogan can contribute to City’s continued success, it is likely that any lingering hard feelings will quickly dissipate.
In the coming days, it will become clear whether Gündogan’s return to Manchester City will materialize. If it does, it will mark the beginning of a new chapter in the career of a player who has already achieved so much but still has more to offer at the highest level of football.
Dariel Campbell is currently an English instructor at a university. She has experience in teaching and assessing English tests including TOEFL, IELTS, BULATS, FCE, CAE, and PTEG. With over a decade of teaching expertise, Dariel Campbell utilizes his knowledge to develop English lessons for her audience on English Overview.
