Ilkay Gundogan Seeks New Club After Short Barcelona Stint

Ilkay Gundogan, Barcelona’s 33-year-old midfielder is exploring options to leave the club despite having two years remaining on his contract. Gundogan joined Barcelona on a free transfer from Manchester City last summer but his tenure at the Catalan club has been brief. Despite making 51 appearances last season and helping Barcelona finish second in La Liga, the club is willing to let him depart if he finds a suitable offer.

Clubs in England, Spain and Saudi Arabia have shown interest in Gundogan. Barcelona’s financial constraints complicate his situation, affecting their ability to register new signings like the £51 million acquisition of Dani Olmo. The club also needs to consider potential sales such as that of striker Vitor Roque to manage their squad costs. Barcelona manager Hansi Flick, who previously managed Gundogan with the German national team, addressed speculation about the midfielder.

Flick praised Gundogan as both a player and a person and hinted at a possible continuation with Barcelona. However, he acknowledged that the final decision might depend on the club’s financial status. Gundogan has also announced his retirement from international football. Since making his debut for Germany in 2011, he earned 82 caps and captained the team at this summer’s European Championship.

Ilkay Gundogan cited growing physical and mental fatigue as reasons for his decision to retire from international duty. He acknowledged the increasing demands of his roles at both club and national levels.