Ilkay Gündogan will leave Manchester City for Barcelona for free, shattering their chances of keeping the crucial midfielder. The 32 years old has agreed to a two years deal with Barça, with an option for an additional year. He was City’s captain and a key member of their treble winning team, scoring twice in the FA Cup final. At the end of the month, Gündogan’s contract at City was set to expire.
Gündogan departs with the respect and endorsement of City because they are aware that he signed an agreement to join Barcelona. They extended a new one year deal to the German with the possibility of an additional year, but given his pay demands and the Catalan club’s offer of three years, City is okay with him leaving given their midfield options.
No official statement expected today for Ilkay Gündogan as new Barça player — he will communicate to Man City, matter of respect then announce his move to Barcelona. 🔵🔴✅ #FCB
It’s done and sealed, as reported today. pic.twitter.com/Y0vuN0Ohnt
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 21, 2023
They would also cite a history of allowing other athletes older than 30 to leave at the appropriate time. Yaya Touré, Sergio Agüero, Fernandinho, and Pablo Zabaleta are a few of these.
At a golf event on Monday, Pep Guardiola had stated to reporters. We are interested in renewing his contract, and Barcelona are also interested. I’m hoping he stays here. We are still battling to keep him with us. We will do everything in our power to keep him, but we are aware that Barça want him.
Barça will have a fantastic footballer on their hands if they sign him. I’m aware that Xavi, the manager of Barcelona, has phoned him frequently. If he chooses Barça in the end, I will assure him that he will have fun.
The 28 year old’s contract expires in 2025, and speculation regarding his future has led to associations with Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain. Guardiola and City want the midfielder to stay in Manchester.
After Gündogan left, City immediately bolstered their midfield options by acquiring Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea for £25 million plus £5 million in add-ons.
Since joining Chelsea from Real Madrid on a five years agreement in 2019, after first coming on loan, Kovacic has been an important player. The Croat, whose contract was about to expire, leaves Chelsea when Mauricio Pochettino takes over as manager and overhauls the team.
In that period, Kovacic has made 221 appearances, contributing 15 assists in addition to his six goals and champions league, europa league, and club world cup victories.
However, it has been assumed that the 29 years old will leave in the summer ever since he reached the final 18 months of his contract in January.
Chelsea has had to take proposals from Premier League opponents into consideration since they are in a situation where they must raise money as quickly as possible to improve their standing with FFP.
Pep Guardiola has taken advantage of the circumstance to make a move for a player who could end up replacing Ilkay Gundogan, just like Chelsea did with Raheem Sterling last summer.
Whether the club great will sign new contracts at the Etihad Stadium is still up in the air, but regardless of how the situation with the Germany international is settled, City will presumably have a new midfielder in their ranks.
Kovacic’s deal to the Premier League winners is now anticipated to be completed, according to transfer analyst Fabrizio Romano, who claims that City and Chelsea have reached an agreement on a cost.
More exclusive details on Kovacić deal. Understand Manchester City will pay a guaranteed fee of £25m to Chelsea.
£5m will be also included in add-ons to be activated only if/when Man City will win titles — not player’s performances.
Pep has his new midfielder.
Here we go. ✨🇭🇷 pic.twitter.com/kT0diRKn54— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 21, 2023
Chelsea allegedly demanded £35 million at one point for a player who had just helped Croatia lose on penalties to Spain in the UEFA Nations League final, narrowly missing out on the title.
Romano claims that City will instead pay £25 million up front for Kovacic, with an additional $5 million perhaps coming in add-ons based on City’s success in the coming years.
According to reports from earlier this month, personal terms had already been settled, and Kovacic would soon undergo a medical exam with officials from City.
N’Golo Kante’s transfer to the Saudi Arabian champions Al-Ittihad was announced on Tuesday night, meaning Chelsea will soon lose a second midfielder.
At a time when Chelsea is trying to recruit Moises Caicedo from Brighton & Hove Albion, Conor Gallagher and Ruben Loftus-Cheek have also been linked with moves to Germany and Italy, respectively.