Gundogan's City Return: The Inside Story of a Barcelona Exit

Ilkay Gundogan arrived at Barcelona's training ground last Thursday morning, ready to prepare for their season opener against Valencia. But just hours after the session concluded, he and his representatives were working on a way out of the club.

The turning point was a meeting with manager Hansi Flick. Following training, the two Germans engaged in a conversation about Gundogan's future. Speculation had been swirling in the local media, with some outlets, citing Barcelona sources, claiming that his salary was hindering the club's plans for the 2024-25 season.

Gundogan, who had joined Barcelona on a free transfer from Manchester City the previous summer and recently extended his contract to June 2026, had been aware of the rumours but hadn't paid them much attention. He was determined to stay at the Catalan club. He and his inner circle were familiar with the political machinations and media attention that often characterised the "entorno," the sometimes toxic atmosphere of intrigue surrounding the club. It was in this context that he sought clarity from Flick.

"I spoke with (Gundogan) to know how he feels ahead of the season," Flick said in his pre-Valencia press conference. "I know him very well. I appreciate the player and the person he is. We spoke about everything, but it will stay between us; it's not for you to know. I have the feeling he will stay."

Sources close to Gundogan, who preferred to remain anonymous to protect their relationships, revealed that the player left the meeting with a different perspective. That Thursday evening, back at his city-centre home, he picked up the phone and called Pep Guardiola.

Last season, Gundogan was Barcelona's most-used player under Xavi. His appearances in over 60% of Barca's matches automatically extended his two-year contract by a further year. However, Flick had informed him that he couldn't guarantee him a starting role this season, with the arrival of Dani Olmo, who signed for €60 million (£50.1m; $66.6m) but was yet to be registered, and the growing prominence of Pedri and Fermin Lopez seen as key factors.

Despite this, sources close to Gundogan maintain that they never received clear communication about his role in the upcoming season. They were also unaware that his salary had become a concern. The message they received throughout the summer was that Barcelona were happy with their squad and not planning any sales, though they were willing to listen to offers.

Gundogan expressed his respect for Flick, the manager who had made him Germany captain, but after their meeting, he still lacked clarity about his future. Amidst this uncertainty, he decided to contact his former club.

Gundogan wanted to know if there was any possibility of him returning to City. If he had to seek a new challenge away from Barcelona, it was the only place he envisioned himself. While there had been interest from clubs in Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia over the summer, sources close to the player said that if City hadn't been an option, he would likely have stayed in Barcelona.

The conversation between Guardiola and Gundogan was brief. Guardiola confirmed he would be happy to have him back but asked for time to discuss the situation internally with City's decision-makers.

By Friday's training session, a consensus on Gundogan's return had already emerged at City. Txiki Begiristain, City's director of football, had also spoken with the player's camp.

On the Sunday after Barcelona's 2-1 victory over Valencia (Gundogan was not in the squad, with Flick explaining that he was still recovering from a concussion suffered in a friendly match five days earlier), Gundogan's agents informed Barcelona's sporting director Deco that they were exploring options to leave, without revealing the City interest. Deco had hoped to see Gundogan move abroad rather than join a rival in Spain, but they recognised that significant discussions were still to come.

Gundogan had two years left on his contract, so surely Barcelona would demand a fee for his departure? This is where the Catalan club's financial woes come into play.

Barcelona had signed Olmo the week before, but due to their breach of La Liga's salary limit (a policy that applies to all clubs, with the limit calculated based on revenue), he remained unregistered with the competition. He was ineligible to play against Valencia.

Barcelona needed to address this situation by reducing their wage bill or generating more revenue. They had entered the summer with plans to sell several players, including Ronald Araujo, who was initially a potential departure before suffering an injury at the Copa America, but they had yet to raise significant funds through player sales.

Initially, Barcelona proposed a fee for Gundogan's departure in talks with his representatives, but this was quickly dropped, and they agreed to let him go on a free transfer. While there would be no fee, the savings on his wages would contribute to meeting La Liga's salary limit. Gundogan was among the club's three highest earners, but club sources say his departure alone wouldn't be enough to register Olmo.

Gundogan's free transfer was crucial to the City move coming to fruition. On Tuesday, the player's camp informed Deco of their intention to rejoin the Manchester club, with the news already making headlines. Despite being away for just over a year, the strength of their connection remained undeniable. Even during his time in Barcelona, there were signs of this strong bond.

Guardiola's family had helped Gundogan find a home after he struggled to secure an apartment during his first few weeks in Manchester. He also met with City's Bernardo Silva, one of his closest friends in football, on multiple occasions. Bernardo's sister-in-law, Mariana, lives in Barcelona, both players' wives are close, and they all attended Mariana's wedding in Catalonia this summer.

During Euro 2024, Gundogan received support from another City figure: Jack Grealish. "Can't explain how good this guy is, man," he wrote on Instagram during Germany's 2-0 win over Hungary, in which Gundogan scored one goal and assisted another. "One of the best I've had the pleasure of playing with." The 33-year-old appreciated the support at a challenging time for him and the national team.

This summer, Gundogan rejoined the Barcelona squad, with Flick's team already in the United States for their pre-season tour. Due to his involvement at the Euros, he was given an extended holiday. He was scheduled to join the team in Orlando by the end of July, and he spent some time with his partner in New York the previous week.

Coincidentally, Gundogan encountered several City backroom staff members in Manhattan during his free days, as City were also in the city for their pre-season tour. They engaged in a friendly conversation, during which the player stated he was unlikely to play in the upcoming match between Barcelona and City. As expected, Gundogan did not play, as he was still catching up with training, but he received a warm welcome from Guardiola, assistant coach Juanma Lillo, and all his former teammates at the match.

It is impossible to ignore the significance of Gundogan's bond with Guardiola in this move. When he called the manager to inquire about a potential return to City, another topic of discussion emerged.

Gundogan has already been contemplating his life after retirement. He has been open about his coaching ambitions in the past and started his coaching badges during his time at City. In his phone call with Guardiola last week, he confirmed his plans to continue his coaching education and expressed interest in joining Guardiola's backroom staff, wherever the 53-year-old might be in the near future. Guardiola welcomed the idea.

Their reunion was celebrated on Wednesday night when Gundogan met with Guardiola, his brother Pere, and City executives Ferran Soriano and Begiristain at Tast, the Manchester restaurant they partly own.

They will have many more opportunities to spend time together. Gundogan still owns the apartment he lived in during his time in Manchester, next door to Guardiola. And, of course, his reception at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday will be filled with appreciation.

From a Barcelona perspective, the club is bidding farewell to arguably their most consistent performer of last season, a player who scored five goals, provided 14 assists, and created the most goalscoring chances of any La Liga player across 2023-24.

When he joined City, he was convinced to move by sporting directors Mateu Alemany and Jordi Cruyff, as well as Xavi, who valued his winning mentality and the positive influence he would bring to help develop Barcelona's young players. A year later, all three figures have departed.

*(Top photo: Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images/Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images. Visual design by Eamonn Dalton)