The signings made by FC Barcelona in the summer have all had their respective roles. Some have been mainly used as impact substitutes, while others have been more central in terms of importance. However, one Barcelona signing in particular has become a guarantee for Xavi Hernandez.
Ilkay Gundogan, purchased as a free agent after the exhaustion of his Manchester City contract, has been an absolute for Xavi ever since his arrival. The Barcelona coach continues to trust him fully, given both his experience and unwavering quality. However, those he left behind after his departure from Manchester City still seem to miss him.
According to the latest update provided by Mundo Deportivo, it would appear that Manchester City remains far from forgetful about what they lost with Gundogan. In particular, former Barcelona coach, Pep Guardiola, is the man who seems to be missing Gundogan the most as per the report.
The Spanish coach always believed in the importance of the German midfielder to his team. Being his first signing for Man City after his arrival in England, Guardiola considered Gundogan a crucial part of the squad both on and off the field.
A leader by nature, he would also ensure that proceedings would reach a positive climax for Manchester City. His late arrivals in the box, good eye for goal, vision, and ability to link up with his teammates intelligently were all traits that made him such a vital asset to that City team.
Even in his final season before heading to Barcelona, the German managed to leave Man City with a treble. This season, in his absence, they continue to miss him and have thus far been unsuccessful in their attempts to effectively replace him.
Neither Matheus Nunes nor Mateo Kovacic, as per MD, have been able to replace his impact. Even Erling Haaland, City’s ace striker, has struggled in Gundogan’s absence.
The Citizens seem to have much more trouble finding their Norwegian target man these days, something that was not an issue at all when Gundogan was there to feed him as well in his record-breaking season.
Now, Gundogan remains the property and asset of Barcelona. While his first season at the club may not have gone as smoothly as either party would have hoped, it seems that Xavi and the German star both have big plans for next season given that the Barcelona coach is set to retain his position.
