The reason behind Gündogan's departure from FC Barcelona: this is how the German explained it

İlkay Gündoğan's adventure at FC Barcelona was a true rollercoaster of emotions. The German midfielder arrived in the 2023-24 season in unbeatable conditions: on a free transfer after finishing his contract with Manchester City and with the reputation of having been a key player in the historic treble achieved by Pep Guardiola's team in the 2022-23 season.

However, his time as a 'Blaugrana' was not what many expected. Barça finished the season without titles, and 'Gündo' was one of the most questioned names, not so much for his performance on the field, but for some public statements that generated controversy.

• 📌 GÜNDOGAN'S NUMBERS WITH FC BARCELONA: 1 season (2023-24), 51 appearances, five goals and 14 assists.

One of the most tense moments occurred after Barcelona's elimination in the quarterfinals of the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain, when the midfielder openly criticized Ronald Araújo for causing the expulsion that ended up being key for the Parisians to turn the tie around. This type of episode marked his relationship with the dressing room and part of the 'culé' environment.

Gündogan's unexpected departure from Barcelona in the 2024-25 summer market

The situation became even stranger in the summer of 2024, when Gündogan's departure from Barcelona was confirmed. The midfielder returned to Manchester City, but did so without leaving any income in the 'culé' coffers. Even so, the transfer had a key effect: freeing up space in the wage bill.

Dear culers,
after just one year it’s already time to say goodbye. I came here to face a new, exciting challenge, and I was ready for it. I have given everything to fight for the team and the club the best possible way in a difficult season and I was looking forward to helping my… pic.twitter.com/n9gAhbmpmz

— Ilkay Gündogan (@IlkayGuendogan) August 23, 2024

According to data from 'Capology', Gündogan was one of the best-paid players in the 'culé' squad, with a gross salary of 17.8 million euros per season. His departure allowed the Catalan team to bet on the signing of Dani Olmo, star signing of the 2024-25 season, who arrived to occupy the attacking midfielder position that, in theory, İlkay should have led under the orders of Hansi Flick.

Reasons for Gündogan's departure from FC Barcelona: Player's explanation

In a recent interview with the German newspaper 'BILD', Gündogan explained the reasons for his departure from Barcelona. The '19' of City acknowledged that his initial intention was to continue in Hansi Flick's project, a coach with whom he maintains a good relationship: Hansi and I have always gotten along very well, and after the holidays, I felt motivated to play with him again. I was expecting an intense exchange. But it wasn't like that