Confusion in Barcelona over Hansi Flick’s Ilkay Gundogan decision

After another summer of upheaval in Barcelona, midfielder Ilkay Gundogan looks set to leave as the team rebuilds under new head coach Hansi Flick. Gundogan has been told of the decision to move him on but there remains confusion over exactly who made the call.

AS USA sources in Spain report that Flick told Deco, the Barça sporting director, that he does not see Gundogan as a key player in the new-look team. To prevent the news from leaking out, Flick then spoke to the German player to pass on the same message.

However Gundogan’s entourage maintain that the decision was not actually Flick’s. Instead, they suggest that it came from those higher up in the club. Gundogan joined on a free transfer last summer but he earns a significant wage and still has two years left on his contract.

The Athletic reports that teams in the Premier League, Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia have expressed an interest in Gundogan. Former team Manchester City are reportedly among those interested.

Why do Barcelona want to sell Ilkay Gundogan?

First of all, there is a legitimate sporting reason to want to move away from Gundogan. New boss Flick is attempting to reshape the Barca roster and reintroduce the high-tempo, passing football that distinguished the club under Pep Guardiola.

Young midfielders like Gavi, Pedri and Fermín López will be central to that effort, as will new signing Dani Olmo. However Barcelona’s starting XI for much of 2023/24 also included veterans Gundogan and Robert Lewandowski. There is a belief without the club that Gundogan and Lewandowski - 33 and 35, respectively - cannot both feature in this new style of play.

Of the two, Gundogan may well be forced to make way.

In addition to that on-field decision, Barcelona’s financial struggles are no secret and they had not registered Olmo in time to feature in their LaLiga opener against Valencia on Saturday. Gundogan’s departure would free up space in the club’s stretched wage budget, allowing them to complete that signing and potentially add another player.

The German is not the only one to receive this treatment, 19-year-old starlet Vitor Roque is also close to an exit despite having only signed for the team last summer.

Once again, Barcelona’s transfer dealings are defined as much by the need to balance the books as there are by any cohesive on-field plan, something that leaves them at a significant disadvantage. They face an uphill battle if they are to overhaul the ten-point gap to Real Madrid this time around.