Manchester City and Ilkay Gundogan have reached a full agreement for the German to re-sign for the Premier League side. The 33-year-old will sign a one-year contract with City, with the option of a further 12 months. He will leave Barcelona on a free transfer, just a year after joining them following the expiration of his City contract in June 2023.
Gundogan's City return is a no-brainer.
In order to facilitate the move, Gundogan is forgoing the remaining two years of salary he would be owed by Barcelona. The third year of his contract was triggered last season when he featured in more than 60 per cent of their games.
Gundogan joined Barcelona last summer, going on to play 36 times in his first season, but was told he was not part of new head coach Hansi Flick’s plans after the German replaced Xavi earlier this summer. The Athletic reported on Tuesday that City were the frontrunners to secure Gundogan’s return, with the midfielder having spoken with Pep Guardiola over a possible return to Manchester and the manager giving the green light to the move.
Gundogan's decision to return to Manchester City is likely due to a number of factors, including the fact that he is a key player for Guardiola and that he has a close relationship with the manager. He has also had a difficult year at Barcelona, where he has been plagued by injuries and has been told he is not part of the club's plans for the future.
Gundogan's departure will be a blow to Barcelona, who are already facing financial difficulties. The club has been struggling to register its summer signings, and it has been forced to sell off players in order to balance its books. The loss of a player like Gundogan, who was one of the club's best performers last season, is likely to further strain the club's finances.
The German's enforced exit proves that the Blaugrana remain beset by financial problems - four years after Josep Maria Bartomeu's resignation.
Joan Laporta claimed in February of this year, "If we meet the budget, the darkest era in FC Barcelona's history will be over." Just over two months ago, he revealed that the "financial transition", from the edge of bankruptcy to economic stability, was "getting closer and closer".
Alluding to the mess he inherited from his disgraced predecessor, Josep Maria Bartomeu, Laporta said, "The culers (Barca fans) have been patient and we are working to turn the situation around from the one we found when we came to the presidency (in March 2021). The balance sheet this season will be positive and I hope soon we can be '1:1' (the Liga regulation that allows a member club to invest as much money in transfers as it generates in revenue).
"I am an optimist and a realist, and I know what I am talking about. We have grown in terms of income and we have reduced expenses, and we are in a situation in which we are about to resolve the Financial Fair Play (FFP) issues from last season."
Consequently, Barca are once again scrambling around at the tail end of August, trying to either sell players or remove high-earners from the wage bill just to make ends meet. At the time of writing, Ilkay Gundogan - who only arrived in Catalunya last summer and was one of the Blaugrana's best players last season - is being pushed out the door, which only begs the question: Are Barcelona really making any progress under Laporta - or simply back to square one?
It seems as though the Blaugrana have gone full circle and are back in a familiar position, where they are forced to make difficult decisions regarding their players in order to comply with La Liga's financial regulations.
Gundogan's return to Manchester City is a major boost for the club, who are looking to defend their Premier League title and win the Champions League for the second time in a row. The German midfielder is a proven winner and he is likely to be a key player for Guardiola next season.
However, Gundogan's departure from Barcelona is a major blow to the Catalan giants, who are already facing a number of challenges. The club's financial situation is precarious, and the loss of a player of Gundogan's caliber is likely to further strain the club's finances.
Gundogan's departure is a reminder of the financial challenges that many European clubs are facing, and it is a sign of the times that even top clubs like Barcelona are being forced to make difficult decisions regarding their players.
However, Gundogan's decision to return to Manchester City is a testament to the club's pulling power. City is one of the most successful clubs in the world, and it is clear that Guardiola is still the best manager in the game. Gundogan's return is a sign that City is still a force to be reckoned with, and that Guardiola is still building a team that is capable of winning trophies at the highest level.
It is likely that Gundogan's return to Manchester City will be a positive move for both the club and the player. Gundogan will be playing for a manager who knows him well and who trusts him, and he will be playing for a club that is competing for trophies at the highest level. He will also be returning to a city where he is loved and where he feels at home.
For Barcelona, however, the loss of Gundogan is a setback. The club is already facing a number of challenges, and the departure of a key player like Gundogan is likely to make things even more difficult. It remains to be seen how the club will cope with the loss of such a talented player, but it is clear that Barcelona is facing a difficult period.
It remains to be seen how Gundogan will perform in his second spell at City, but one thing is for sure: he will be a welcome addition to the squad.
The German midfielder is a proven winner, and he has the experience and quality to make a significant impact at the Etihad.
It is a testament to Guardiola's coaching and City's ambitions that they were able to lure Gundogan back to the club.
The return of a player of Gundogan's caliber is a sign of City's intent to continue its dominance in English football and on the European stage.
