Barcelona are once again in the eye of the storm, and this time it's none other than Ilkay Gündogan who is in the spotlight. The German, who arrived at the Catalan club surrounded by expectations, seems to be leaving after just one season. But there is much more at stake than just a transfer. Barça's financial situation, which was already complicated, is now on the verge of complete disaster. And to make matters worse, Manchester City, his former club, are ready to open their doors to the player again, with Pep Guardiola already signaling a return.
Follow Playing for 90 on X (Twitter).
Of course, the situation at Barcelona doesn't help. After a modest season, without titles and with five goals and 14 assists to his name, Gündogan seems to have realized that the Catalan ship is not as steady as he thought. The internal atmosphere at Barça isn't the best either, with both public and private criticism of the players' commitment and performance. As a result, Gündogan's departure is looking more and more like an inevitable solution to relieve the wage bill and make room, as in the case of Dani Olmo.
And here comes the old maxim: when a giant stumbles, the sharks appear. Teams from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and even Turkey have already shown an interest in the German midfielder. But the truth is that his return to Manchester City is all but sealed. Who could resist the possibility of returning to the team where he won 14 titles, scored 60 goals and provided 36 assists in 304 games?
Pep Guardiola, who built one of the most successful dynasties in modern soccer at City, is looking forward to the return of one of his most trusted players. Gündogan was a key cog in Guardiola's scheme and, with the coach's blessing, the German just needs to give the green light for his return to take place. It's an almost perfect marriage, with City needing a reinforced midfield and Gündogan looking for a team where he can really shine.
Barça, meanwhile, are in dire straits. Deco's proposed deal, which would have involved an exchange between Gündogan and Rodri, was promptly rejected by Manchester City. To make matters worse, the Catalan club still has financial disputes with the English, who demand the remaining payment of Ferran Torres' fee by August 31, under penalty of legal action. It's a situation that exposes Barcelona's financial wounds and, at the same time, shows the pressure the club is under to remain competitive.
In the midst of all this, the question remains: why would Barcelona be willing to give up a player of Gündogan's caliber? The answer lies in the tightrope the club is walking. The Catalan financial crisis is nothing new to anyone, and relieving the payroll may be the only viable way out in the short term. Dani Olmo, Barça's coveted target, arrived as the big signing. Now, in order to balance the finances, someone has to leave.
It's ironic to think that a player of Gündogan's quality, who has been instrumental in so many of Manchester City's achievements, is now being treated as a bargaining chip. And that says a lot about Barcelona's current state. The crisis isn't just financial, it's about identity, priorities and planning. The choice to sacrifice a player like Gündogan in order to lighten the wage bill is symptomatic of a club that is literally cutting corners in order to survive.
With the transfer window now open, the next few days will be decisive for Gündogan, Barcelona and Manchester City. A return to the Etihad looks increasingly likely, and City fans are already starting to get excited about the idea of having an old acquaintance back in their team. On the other hand, Barça fans are wondering: what else will the club have to sacrifice to get out of the hole it's in? Because of the situation, the Blaugranas have started the second season in a row without registering all their players, and the German is among them, missing out on the first LaLiga matchday against Valencia.
At the end of the day, this story of Gündogan and Barcelona is the perfect portrait of modern soccer: passion, money, crisis and difficult decisions. Soccer, after all, is like that, a game of chess where the most valuable pieces don't always remain on the board. And Gündogan, perhaps, is about to be sacrificed so that Barcelona can try to survive amid the chaos.