Could Xavi entice Gundogan to Barca next season?
FT Desk
- Updated: 12 Mar 2022 21:49 GMT
- 7 min read
Manchester City have one of the biggest, most talented and most expensive assembled squads in the history of football.
But one notable downside to such riches is the fact that players can very quickly find themselves playing second fiddle to a new signing and suddenly be out of favour with Pep Guardiola.
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According to reports in Spain, Germany international Ilkay Gundogan could be the next former star to find himself edging towards the exit door, with apparent interest from Barcelona growing by the day.
Although the Daily Star have reported that the midfielder will snub such interest and may even sign a new contract extension with the English champions, it’s certainly worth considering whether Gundogan could end up leaving City at the end of the season for a new challenge in Spain.
Will Gundogan stay at Man City next season?
While Gundogan has made 32 appearances for Man City this season in all competitions, there’s no doubt that the 31-year-old’s influence in Guardiola’s squad is beginning to diminish.
For example, after bagging 17 goals and five assists last season, the midfielder has only managed seven goals and five assists this time around. And in the last 10 league games, Gundogan has only been in the starting XI on four occasions and was an unused sub in two.
Unfortunately for the Germany international, Guardiola has simply found more use in attacking midfielders such as Kevin de Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden, while the holding midfield role now seems to be Rodri’s to lose for the foreseeable future.
As such, a move to Barca where Gundogan could demand a starting role in Xavi’s team each week is perhaps more enticing that watching his role at City diminish with every passing month.
