Manchester City captain Ilkay Gundogan will be making a move to Barcelona as a free agent, with his current contract set to expire at the end of this month.
While City did extend an offer for a new contract, the 32-year-old midfielder is believed to have negotiated a more lucrative three-year deal with the reigning Spanish champions.
Gundogan played a pivotal role in City’s triumphant season, contributing to their remarkable Treble success. Over the course of the 2022-23 campaign, the German midfielder appeared in 51 matches and found the back of the net on 11 occasions. His influence was particularly pronounced in the closing stages of City’s season, where he scored six goals in his final seven games, including a crucial brace in the 2-1 victory over Manchester United in the FA Cup final.
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In the Champions League final against Inter Milan, Gundogan played the full 90 minutes as City secured a 1-0 triumph, adding to their achievements in the Premier League and FA Cup during the same season. City manager Pep Guardiola had expressed his desire to retain Gundogan, recognizing his significance to the team’s success.
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Guardiola had previously mentioned that City director Txiki Begiristain was actively working on securing Gundogan’s continued stay, hoping for a positive outcome.
Gundogan’s departure from Manchester City follows the club’s agreement to acquire Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea for a fee of £30m. Since his arrival at the Etihad Stadium from Borussia Dortmund in 2016, Gundogan has amassed an impressive record, featuring in 304 matches for City and scoring 60 goals. Throughout his seven-year tenure, he has claimed a remarkable tally of 14 trophies, including five Premier League titles, one Champions League title, two FA Cups, four Carabao Cups, and two Community Shields.
At the outset of the 2022-23 season, Gundogan was appointed as the club captain following the departure of Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho. His leadership and on-field contributions have been instrumental in City’s success, establishing him as a key figure within the squad.