Barcelona’s president has shed light on why Ilkay Gundogan decided to rejoin Manchester City after a brief stint with Barcelona. Last summer, Gundogan left Manchester City on a free transfer to join Barcelona, but he has now completed a return to his former club.
Gundogan made 51 appearances for Barcelona last season, contributing five goals and fourteen assists.
Laporta Discusses Gundogan’s Departure
Joan Laporta, Barcelona’s president, clarified that Gundogan’s departure was driven by sporting reasons rather than financial ones. Laporta explained that after a discussion with new manager Hansi Flick and evaluating the squad’s needs, Gundogan decided to leave. The arrival of Dani Olmo, who performs a similar role to Gundogan, influenced this decision.
Laporta stated, “Gundogan is a great player and an excellent person. Our time with him showed his qualities. However, following a meeting with Hansi Flick and assessing the squad, he decided he wanted to leave. The signing of Dani Olmo meant we had a player with similar capabilities, which was a factor in his decision.”
He added, “It was purely a sporting decision. The financial impact has been beneficial, but the primary reason for his departure was related to the sporting strategy.”
Despite Gundogan’s public criticism of his teammates and subsequent controversy, Barcelona managed to recruit Olmo by adjusting their budget. Gundogan, who was one of the higher-paid players at Barcelona, had reportedly earned £165,000 a week.
Laporta emphasized, “Gundogan came to us without a transfer fee, and it was fair that if he wished to return to City, there would be no fee involved. His decision was based on sporting considerations.”