Barcelona star wants Guardiola reunion being FORCED OUT

Robin Bairner

19 Aug 2024 13:55 BST
3 min read

Pep Guardiola, Barcelona, 2024/25 — © IMAGO

Barcelona midfielder Ilkay Gundogan is angling for a startling return to Manchester City after being forced out of Camp Nou, according to multiple reports in Spain.

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Gundogan only moved to Barca last summer, when he joined the Catalan side on a free transfer when his deal at the Etihad Stadium expired.

His debut campaign, in which the 33-year-old 51 times, scoring five goals and creating 14, is set to be his last in LaLiga, according to CadenaSER, which indicates he is already poised to depart.

Current ETV

İlkay Gündoğan

M (C)

Barcelona

İlkay Gündoğan

M (C)

Barcelona

ETV Range

€19.9M - €33.1M

Commanding a bid salary, Barcelona cannot afford to keep him, it is stated.

Hansi Flick’s side were left in the embarrassing position of not being able to register new signing Dani Olmo for their opening match of the season against Valencia due to their ongoing financial problems.

The German coach claimed that Olmo was not fully fit, yet CadenaSER confirm the Euro 2024 winner “was left out of the squad… due to the impossibility of being registered”.

Gundogan and his weighty salary have, therefore, come under scrutiny.

Talks have been held between Flick and the player, and following this conversation, the former Man City player has agreed to depart.

Relevo states that he is open to leaving because he “does not want to be a problem” for the Camp Nou side. It does not, however, that he was put under pressure to leave.

As such, Barcelona are said to be planning to be without Gundogan after the transfer window closes and are simply waiting for the player to strike a deal with another club.

It is stated that he would “welcome the possibility of returning to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City”.