FC Barcelona have been quite literally a mess during the course of this summer transfer window. No major signings have been acquired apart from Dani Olmo, but everything else has been frustrating to see unfold. Even right now, Barcelona are in the process of letting go of one of their best players.
Ilkay Gundogan, one of Barça’s best performers last season and a player who guaranteed both consistency and experience, is expected to join Manchester City this summer. His departure will reportedly open up the salary space that the club needs to register Dani Olmo and other potential signings in the future.
However, beyond just the fact that the player was only kept at the club for one season and is now being sold as a free transfer, it is his professionalism that Barcelona may end up missing the most as they let go of such a sound leader and mature player.
According to FC Barcelona correspondent at The Athletic, Pol Ballus, Gundogan has written off two years of his contract at Barcelona and hence saved the club a lot of money in the process given that he did have a significant salary.
Moreover, the report confirms that he did trigger the extension of a third season due to playing 60% of the games in the previous campaign. The player has willingly written it off and has in turn helped the Catalan club out significantly from an economic perspective as he seems to be sympathetic towards their financial restrictions.
Instead of creating a big scene, the German veteran retained his sense of professionalism until the very end. A competitive player who comes from a background that would demand as such, Gundogan’s presence in the team offered much more than just his footballing quality on the pitch.
It remains to be seen if Barcelona will miss him in a sporting sense, especially given the fact that they do have midfielders who are either injury-prone or simply too young to have the weight of the world put on their shoulders. However, it can be almost undeniable that Barça will definitely miss the presence of such an experienced player in the team.
