It only seemed a matter of time before FC Barcelona made another significant move in the transfer market. However, instead of signing new players just yet, the club was mainly focused on ensuring departures. Unfortunately, that also means that Barcelona would end up making some less-than-ideal decisions.
This time around, the sale that has taken place is not of a fringe player or someone who is not performing up to the level that is demanded of him. Moreover, it is not even the sale of a player who could bring in a sizeable transfer fee for their departure to another club.
Instead, it is the departure of Ilkay Gundogan that has more or less been confirmed by now. According to the ever-reliable Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Manchester City will be signing Ilkay Gundogan for free from FC Barcelona this summer as he returns to his former club back in England and the journalist has attached his iconic ‘here we go’ to the deal as well.
The German midfielder, now aged 33, spent only one season at FC Barcelona and will now be returning to his previous team. He will be joining the Citizens on a one-year contract that will be valid until June of 2025. Pep Guardiola had already agreed to this return, and all parties seem satisfied with the outcome.
For Barcelona, the departure of the player opens up salary space that can possibly be used to register new signings and may potentially allow them to enter the transfer window once again to check if a new player can be accommodated as well in case the numbers align.
Agreement over this Ilkay Gundogan deal, however, was finalized over the last 48 hours according to the journalist. Positive talks have led to this agreement and the player is now destined to go back to the English Premier League as he parts ways with FC Barcelona.
During his time at the Catalan club, the German midfielder has appeared in 51 games, and managed to score 5 goals and also provided 14 assists. Unfortunately, he was unable to win any titles over the course of the last season, but his individual performances really stood out.
