Why ‘determined’ Barcelona are axeing ‘important’ Ilkay Gundogan: Saving £17m for unregistered Dani Olmo after breaking monetary guidelines as they use ‘Frenkie de Jong tactic’ – regardless of it ending his dream

Fifteen months in the past, Ilkay Gundogan lifted the Champions League trophy aloft in Istanbul after main Manchester Metropolis to an unprecedented Treble.

The German midfielder had arguably been Metropolis’s most essential participant within the run-in, chipping in with a lot of very important objectives, to write down his title into the membership’s historical past books ceaselessly.

Having been an underrated a part of Pep Guardiola‘s successful machine, Gundogan had the world at his ft and his future very a lot in his personal arms.

Did he wish to keep at Metropolis to proceed their dominance, or was it time for a recent problem? He opted for the latter and selected to affix Barcelona on a free switch.

However now, a little bit over a 12 months later, he’s searching for one other new membership together with his time on the Catalan giants seemingly over already. Which begs the query: the place has all of it gone improper for him at Barcelona?

In spite of everything, transferring to Catalonia together with his actress and mannequin spouse Sara Arfaoui was his dream, however now all of it appears set to finish, and far faster than anybody may have anticipated. 

As has typically been the case at Barcelona in recent times, cash seems to be a significant factor in Gundogan’s imminent exit.

In line with Mundo Deportivo, Gundogan earns round €20m-a-year (£17m-a-year) at Barcelona, and is categorised as a ‘franchise participant’ because of his wage being over 5 per cent of the membership’s whole wage invoice.

The Spanish outfit have been battling with cash points for a lot of seasons, and have been fined £434,000 for breaching UEFA’s monetary guidelines final 12 months.

Subsequently, they discover themselves in a ‘determined’ scenario the place they should elevate funds simply to register gamers, together with Euro 2024 winner Dani Olmo, who signed for the membership earlier this month.

Eliminating Gundogan would reportedly unlock €14m (£12m) within the membership’s honest play funds, and will permit Barcelona to reinvest 70 per cent of those financial savings into new signings.

However is not Gundogan one of many first names on the teamsheet?

Properly, final season he was, and he had no intention of leaving at the beginning of the summer season, in keeping with Relevo. Now, issues have modified.

The 33-year-old was deemed ‘important’ by Xavi and featured in 36 LaLiga video games in 2023-24. One of many two video games he missed was because of suspension.

Gundogan scored 5 objectives and recorded 9 assists in LaLiga final season, proving himself an asset to the crew.

But Xavi departed on the finish of the marketing campaign and has since been changed by Hansi Flick.

The previous Germany boss needs to place his personal stamp on the crew, and doesn’t take into account Gundogan to be a vital participant anymore.

Gundogan and Flick held a gathering final Thursday, the place the supervisor couldn’t assure that Gundogan could be an everyday starter beneath him.

Gundogan was typically utilized in a complicated midfield position beneath Xavi, however deploying him behind an ageing Robert Lewandowski just isn’t in Flick’s plans, with the brand new supervisor desirous to exert stress on opponents excessive up the pitch.

New signing Olmo is believed to be a greater match for this position than Gundogan.

Barcelona want to vary one thing after ending 10 factors adrift of Actual Madrid final season, and Flick seems to need a new face within the No10 position transferring ahead.

Does this imply Gundogan is ready to be compelled out? 

Flick has denied that is the case, regardless of Gundogan not even making the squad for Barcelona’s opening day win towards Valencia on Saturday.

He insisted that Gundogan was injured, and even informed reporters that he anticipated the midfielder to stay round for the upcoming marketing campaign.

‘I believe he’s gonna find yourself staying at Barca,’ Flick mentioned.

‘He was out tonight as he had some discomfort. I spoke to Ilkay, however that stays between us because it’s a personal dialog.’

But Barcelona have reportedly provided Gundogan to Al-Nassr, indicating that they’re able to let him go.

Providing a star participant to different golf equipment is nothing new for Barcelona as they tried the identical tactic with Frenkie de Jong again in 2022 when he was closely linked with a transfer to Manchester United.

In the long run, De Jong stayed at Barcelona to struggle for his place within the facet, however Gundogan may see issues in a different way. 

Gundogan is known to not be fascinated about becoming a member of up with Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia at this stage of his profession, however has been exploring his choices earlier than the summer season switch window slams shut, with Relevo revealing their sources are telling them ‘he’s nearer to leaving than staying’.

Gundogan has been linked with a shock return to Metropolis, regardless of the Premier League champions insisting all summer season that they’re pleased with their present squad.

Gundogan is able to including depth to the midfield ranks, although, and will present much-needed cowl for Rodri, who has spoken about his issues over burnout in latest months.

In the meantime, Spanish outlet Sport have reported that Jose Mourinho may be very eager to deliver Gundogan to Fenerbahce, and can do the whole lot potential to get a deal over the road, whereas Galatasaray are additionally fascinated about signing him. 

Gundogan’s mother and father are Turkish and the previous Metropolis star is pleased with his heritage, having met Turkey president Recep Erdogan again in 2018 together with Mesut Ozil and Cenk Tosun, and referred to him as ‘my president’.

Whether or not this has an affect on his ultimate determination stays to be seen, however it seems that Gundogan has a number of choices to select from as he ponders his subsequent transfer.

He should now decide the suitable one as he bids to get his profession again on monitor after a tough summer season.