Manchester City captain Ilkay Gundogan to join
Manchester Current Manchester City captain Ilkay Gundogan is leaving the club to join Barcelona on a free transfer when his contract expires at the end of this month. While Manchester City have offered Gundogan a new contract, he is believed to have negotiated a more lucrative three-year deal with the Spanish champions. Gundogan, 32, played a crucial role in Manchester City’s successful season in which they achieved an impressive treble. During the 2022-23 season, the German midfielder played in 51 matches and scored 11 goals.
His influence was particularly evident in the final weeks of the season, scoring six goals in the final seven games, including a memorable performance in the FA Cup final against Manchester United. Gundogan played the full 90 minutes in Manchester City’s 1-0 win over Inter Milan in the Champions League final. This triumph, along with triumphs in the Premier League and FA Cup, further cemented Gundogan’s status as a key factor in the team’s success.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has expressed his desire to keep Gundogan and stressed his importance to the squad. Earlier this month, Guardiola mentioned that club director Txiki Begiristain was actively working to keep Gundogan in the hope of a positive outcome.
