The end of the summer transfer market is approaching and with it, surprise moves may arrive. Thus, Ilkay Gündogan would be close to leaving Manchester City again after another season with the citizen team.
The player was not called up for the match on matchday two of the Premier League against Tottenham this Saturday (August 22), just like Manuel Akanji who could leave for Galatasary. That match was won by the 'spurs' by 0-2 at the Etihad Stadium, highlighting the bad moment of the team led by Pep Guardiola.
And it is that precisely on the aforementioned date the German midfielder completed one year of having returned to the 'citizens', after playing the 2023/24 season at FC Barcelona.
Thus, the player would leave the English entity again after having played 8 full seasons with the light blue and white uniform. In addition, he would leave with a record of 5 Premier League titles, 2 FA Cups, 4 English Cups, 2 English Super Cups and 1 Champions League.
Gündogan's next destination: Will it be Serie A?
In this sense, according to recent rumors, Ilkay Gündogan's representative has put the names of Juventus and Inter Milan on the table as possible destinations for the German midfielder, should his departure from Manchester City materialize.
Serie A appears as an attractive option for the player, not only for sporting reasons, but also for personal reasons, since his wife, Sara Arfaoui, was born in Montebelluna and feels a special connection with the nation located in southern Europe.
Although he has a current contract with City until 2026, the '19' is not in Guardiola's plans. Apparently, the 'citizens' board would be willing to facilitate his departure without demanding a transfer fee.
It is worth remembering that Gündogan receives an annual salary close to 8 million euros, a considerable figure that could influence his final destination. For its part, the specialized portal Transfermarkt places its current market value at around €5 million.
Now it remains to be seen where the Gelsenkirchen native will land, who at 34 years old does not want to move away from European football and continues to aim to remain one of the best midfielders in the world.
Gündogan had a bittersweet spell at Barça
When Gundogan landed at Camp Barça in the summer of 2023, it was expected that the player would become a fundamental pillar of the Blaugrana team. However, at the end of the season his departure was announced after scoring 5 goals and providing 14 assists in 51 matches (4,180 minutes).
In statements after his departure, the player commented that at a certain moment he felt that the club needed his departure to materialize for economic reasons. The midfielder was earning in the order of 18 million euros per year and the club had to free up salary mass.
Of course, Gündogan has good memories of Barca. The German believes that he fulfilled his dream by wearing the Blaugrana colors of the Catalan team. However, he did not win any titles as a culé.