This is a brilliant move for Barcelona…and Man City. Barcelona have gotten the all-clear from Man City to sign İlkay Gundogan to a 2-year deal, greatly improving the midfield of Barca.
The rich get richer…and Man City have once again masterfully revamped their squad.
Manchester City have allowed Barcelona to swoop in and sign club captain İlkay Gundogan on a 2-year deal, sending the fantastic midfielder to Catalonia on a deal that benefits all three parties involved. And, to be honest, I think this was the best possible outcome for everyone.
Nearly immediately after Man City won the treble, some of their most important, long-time serving, and key-contributing players have been linked with moves away as City overhaul the squad with new signings like Chelsea’s Mateo Kovačić.
Thus, guys like Kyle Walker, Bernardo Silva, and now İlkay Gundogan, all of whom have been with this City side since Pep Guardiola took charge 7 years ago, find themselves…on the career “chopping block” so to speak.
Now, I’m sure if Gundogan didn’t agree to his Barca move, Kyle Walker doesn’t go to Bayern Munich, or Bernardo Silva doesn’t leave for either Barca or PSG, there still would be a place for these guys in the City side.
After all, they did just massively contribute to a 3rd straight Premier League title, and FA Cup win, and the first Champions League win in Manchester City’s 143-year history.
Though, it would have to be a much smaller role and one that would be unfulfilling of the quality these guys still have to give.
So, as in Gundogan’s case, I think this is a brilliant move that benefits all parties as it not only gives Gundogan more top-flight game time and Man City the ability to introduce new players, but also gives Barca a fantastic midfielder with Champions League-winning experience.
Now, I’m not saying that the current Barca midfield, consisting of Frenkie de Jong, Franck Kessie, Pedri, Gavi, and Sergi Roberto, is bad or anything as that would be a straight up lie with them winning La Liga last season, but it lacks Champions League experience.
Apart from Sergi Roberto, who was a squad player used mainly as a fullback during Barca’s 2015 Champions League win, there’s not a single player left in that midfield who has the experience of reaching a Champions League Final, let alone winning it.
And, if you remove Frenkie de Jong from the mix too, then there’s not a single midfielder with the experience of reaching the Quarterfinals of the CL.
With Sergio Busquets gone (most likely to the US), there’s simply a lack of experience and winning mentality in this midfield when it comes to the Champions League. Gundogan brings that experience and then some.
He has not only won the Champions League for Manchester City, but he’s also been the finals on two other occasions (2013 with Dortmund, 2021 with Man City), he’s reached the Semi-Finals on another occasions (2022), and he’s reached the Quarterfinals six times.
Gundogan is one of the most experienced, prolific, and well-versed midfielders in the world when it comes to the Champions League and what it takes to win in the competition, and that’s exactly what Barca needs.
So, I’m sure its sad for Man City fans that such a beloved and capable midfielder is leaving the club, but everyone has their time with a club before they need to move on.
And that time is now for Gundogan and Man City.
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