Ilkay Gundogan’s future looks increasingly likely to be away from Barcelona with another club reportedly entering the race to sign the former Manchester City star.
Ilkay Gundogan left Manchester City for Barcelona on a free transfer last summer after a highly successful seven-year stint at the Etihad. During his time at City, the 33-year-old won five Premier League titles and the Champions League.
However, Gundogan did not achieve similar success in his first season with Barcelona, as the team finished well behind Real Madrid in the 2023/24 La Liga campaign. Despite having a year remaining on his contract with Barcelona, with an option to extend for another year, there is already speculation about his future.
The rumors intensified after Gundogan was omitted from Hansi Flick’s squad for Barcelona’s 2-1 victory over Valencia on Saturday. Officially, he was rested as a precaution due to a concussion sustained in a pre-season match against Monaco. However, RAC1 reporter Marta Ramon suggests that Gundogan’s exclusion was a deliberate move to pressure him into leaving, given his high salary.
Additionally, Cadena SER journalists Santi Ovalle and Adria Albets report that Gundogan has reportedly agreed to leave Barcelona after discussions with Flick. Sporting director Deco and club president Joan Laporta are now awaiting offers for the midfielder.
On Sunday, Catalunya Radio’s ‘La TdT’ program mentioned that Gundogan had reached out to Manchester City about a possible return, while Turkish clubs Galatasaray and Fenerbahce have also been linked with him.
Spanish outlet SPORT, citing Saudi sources, reports that Al Nassr is contemplating a bid for Ilkay Gundogan after being presented with the opportunity to sign the midfielder. The Saudi Pro League side had previously approached Barcelona about potential deals for Raphinha or Clement Lenglet, but those moves fell through due to the players’ reluctance to relocate to the Middle East.
Now, Al Nassr is considering a formal offer for Gundogan. The German midfielder is said to have several other offers and will need to decide on his future by the end of this week, with the Spanish transfer window closing on August 30.
