Barcelona veteran Ilkay Gundogan looks set to leave the club this summer, after manager Hansi Flick said he would not be a starter, and the club told him his exit would greatly help the club in the transfer market. The 33-year-old looks set to return to Manchester City.
Manchester City Manager Pep Guardiola has already given the green light to Gundogan's return, and his relationship with the Catalan is thought to be strong. RAC1 report that an agreement is imminent, with Barcelona only hoping to save money on his salary, and the city open to an agreement as long as he is free.
The Gündogan case is headed for a quick resolution after the latest contacts between him and Pep Guardiola. @victor_nahe
— Barcacentre (@barcacentre) August 20, 2024
Gundogan was not looking to leave Barcelona, but he will do it as an act of generosity to the club, only a year after he was signed in a free. The German has one year left on his current deal with an option for one more season. Galatasaray has been linked with Gundogan, but he had no intention of leaving the top level so soon, while his camp discarded the option to go to Saudi Arabia, after the contacts between Al-Nassr and Barcelona.
With Barcelona over their salary cap, they will only be able to use 70% of the money they save on Gundogan's wages, but it is believed that this will be enough to sign new signing Dani Olmo. The former La Masia playmaker arrived two weeks ago for €55 million plus €7 million in variables from RB Leipzig.
Image via Marc Atkins/Getty Images
