After just one year, Ilkay Gundogan was forced to leave Barcelona. This was due to the German's high earnings – a salary of 20 million euros gross placed him at the top of Barcelona's salary hierarchy, just behind Robert Lewandowski and Frenkie De Jong. Barcelona decided to let Gundogan leave for Manchester City without a transfer fee. It turned out that parting ways with Gundogan did not allow for the registration of Dani Olmo for the Spanish league, so his potential appearance against Athletic is still in question.
“After just one year, it's time to say goodbye. I came here to face a new and exciting challenge and I was ready for it. I gave everything to fight for the team and the club in the best possible way in a difficult season. I couldn't wait to help my teammates in the new season. Now I leave in a complicated situation, but if my departure can help the club financially, then I will be a little less sad,” Gundogan said in a statement to Barcelona fans.
Many Barcelona fans are furious and hold a grudge against the club for parting ways in such a way with a player who, in the opinion of some fans and pundits, was Barcelona's best player in the previous season.
Germany reacts to Flick's words about Gundogan. “Strange”
Before the league match with Athletic, journalists decided to ask Hansi Flick about his opinion on Barcelona parting ways with Gundogan. “You asked me about him after the match with Valencia. I said then that we had talked and I thought he would help us. This week, however, Ilkay changed his mind. That happens. I know him as a player and as a person. I can't say a single bad thing about him. He was a great player for Barcelona,” the Barcelona coach said.
Flick's words reached the German media, and “Bild” responded to the former German coach's statement in an interesting way. “Flick's strange statement. It sounds completely different from Gundogan's statement. Flick was convinced for a long time that his star would stay at the club. And six days after the win against Valencia, Gundogan is addressing the fans as a Manchester City player. And Barcelona has been struggling with financial problems for years and has had to cut wages, among other things,” we read in the German daily.
Gundogan made 51 appearances for Barcelona in all competitions last season, scoring five goals and providing 14 assists. The German had the most assists on the team, with Robert Lewandowski (26), Fermin Lopez, Ferran Torres (11 each), Joao Felix, Raphinha (10 each) and Lamine Yamal (7) all contributing goals.
In the next league match, Barcelona will play against Athletic. This match will take place on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. Live text coverage on Sport.pl, as well as in the Sport.pl LIVE mobile application.