Pep Guardiola leaves Ilkay Gundogan’s Manchester City future in doubt when quizzed on club captain

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has refused to rule out the possibility of club captain Ilkay Gundogan leaving this summer.

Gundogan, who was Guardiola’s first ever signing at the Etihad Stadium, is out of contract in East Manchester at the end of the current campaign.

The German international has won 11 trophies including four Premier League titles with Manchester City, and was named club captain following the departure of veteran midfielder Fernandinho.

Gundogan scored a memorable brace in May, helping the Blues come back from 2-0 down on the final day of the season to retain their Premier League crown with a dramatic 3-2 win over Aston Villa.

The 32 year-old has been strongly linked with a possible move to Barcelona next season, and is currently able to sign a pre-contract agreement with the Catalan club.

The City captain has so far remained coy regarding his future beyond the current campaign amid reports from Spain suggesting that the German could become the latest Blues star to switch the Etihad for the Camp Nou.

Manager Pep Guardiola also left the long-term future of the 32 year-old in doubt, as he spoke to the media ahead of City’s trip to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.

“I know my opinion about Ilkay (Gundogan). Ilkay, what he has done against Aston Villa last season, he can do whatever he wants,” said Guardiola.

“He has paradise already. He knows exactly my opinion about him, the club knows it, but it’s a question of the club and him, and his agent. Whatever is going to happen, I’m pretty sure it’s going to be good for him.

“Really we want (him), for how he behaves, is behaving, all his life, all his period here in Manchester. But what’s going to happen, I’m sorry, these kind of things belong to the club and the player.”

Gundogan has made 284 appearances for City since signing from Borussia Dortmund for £20 million in 2016.

The German, who scored 17 goals as part of the Blues 2020/21 title triumph, has featured on 31 occasions for City so far this season and scored during a recent win over Villa at the Etihad Stadium.