Barcelona president claims different reason for sanctioning summer exit of Ilkay Gundogan

Joan Laporta has claimed that the exit of Ilkay Gundogan from FC Barcelona wasn’t as a result of the club’s financial problems.

Manchester City completed the dramatic re-signing of the 33-year-old during the closing days of the summer transfer window, bringing Ilkay Gundogan back to the Etihad Stadium on a free transfer, just 12 months after the German midfielder moved to the Camp Nou.

Gundogan has made two appearances as a substitute for Pep Guardiola’s side since returning to east Manchester, marking his return against Ipswich Town at the Etihad Stadium, and featuring at the London Stadium against West Ham.

The former Germany international captained Manchester City to an historic treble during his final season at the club in 2023, winning the Premier League, UEFA Champions League and Emirates FA Cup.

Gundogan was Guardiola’s first signing at the Etihad Stadium in 2016, and could be the Catalan’s last with Manchester City, as the 53-year-old is out of contract with the Sky Blues at the end of the current campaign.

The midfielder, who has signed an initial one-year deal with Manchester City, made 304 appearances, scored 60 goals, and won 14 trophies during his first spell at the Etihad between 2016 and 2023.

The 33-year-old has been pivotal to the Blues’ prolonged silverware success, and will be hopeful of winning more trophies upon returning to Manchester City for the 2024/25 campaign.

Barcelona sanctioned the free transfer of the midfielder to facilitate a return to the Premier League, with the Spanish side’s financial problems widely claimed to have forced them to release Gundogan after just one season.

President Joan Laporta has attempted to deny this however, saying: “After a meeting with Flick and evaluating the situation of the squad, he decided that he wanted to leave. It’s exclusively a sporting decision.

“With the addition of Dani Olmo, there was a player with a role similar to Gundogan’s. It was a sporting decision made by the player and the club. I’ve heard that it’s an economic decision, but it’s not.”

Gundogan will be afforded a break during the current September internationals, with the midfielder having announced his retirement from the German national team upon the conclusion of the European Championship.