OFFICIAL: Man City welcome back Ilkay Gundogan

Ilkay Gundogan is back at Manchester City. The club where he spent seven seasons of his career, the longest stint on his CV, has confirmed his return as a free agent after just one season at Barcelona. Although he was under contract until June 30, 2025, Hansi Flick had made it known to him that he would not enjoy a clear starting role, so he has consented an departure from the club.
The German did not want to assume such a notorious decrease in his playing time as the one anticipated by his boss and was aware that his salary was an obstacle to the planning of the Azulgranas budgets, so he did not take long to arrange a departure with his agent. The atmosphere at Barcelona was not favourable to his mentality either, as several public statements have already been made, reproaching his teammates for a possible lack of ambition and self-criticism.

In sporting terms, it is curious that the former Borussia Dortmund">Borussia Dortmund player has run out of space in a squad in which, last season, he did record time on the field and took the field the same number of times as in the previous season as a 'Sky Blue' with identical presences in the starting line-up. Xavi Hernandez conceived him as an immovable piece of his midfield structure and, now, his replacement opts for younger alternatives.
At Manchester City Pep Guardiola will welcome him with open arms. With him, Gundogan won the 2018, 2019, 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023 Premier Leagues, the 2019 and 2023 FA Cups, the 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 EFL Cups, the 2019 and 2020 Community Shields and the 2023 Champions League. At Barcelona, he only won one friendly title, the 2023 Joan Gamper, although he recorded his all-time high in assists -14-.