BARCELONA
How much money have Barcelona saved from Ilkay Gündogan rejoining Manchester City?
The Premier League champions have confirmed they have re-signed Güdnogan from Barça, who have been actively trying to move him on.
Ilkay Gündogan is officially a new Manchester City player, again. The German midfielder has sealed his return to the Premier League after a single season at Barcelona, with Pep Guardiola delighted to welcome his former captain back to the club.
Can Barcelona register Dani Olmo after Gündogan’s departure?
The 33-year-old’s departure from the LaLiga giants looks as if it won’t be enough for them to register Dani Olmo to play. Barça are still also hoping to bring in another attacking player before the transfer market closes on August 30.
Gündogan was first to public confirm his move back to England on social media, where he posted a farewell message to the Barça fanbase, which references his desire to “help the club financially”.
Ilkay Gündogan’s farewell message to Barcelona
“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 teammates in the new campaign.
“Now I am leaving in a difficult situation, but if my departure can help the club financially, it makes me a bit less sad. Nevertheless, it’s been a time with incredible experiences and ups and downs - I always wanted to play at Barça, and I am very grateful for a memory and experience that I will remember for my life. I wish you the best for the season and for the future. The fans deserve to get this big club back to the world’s best.”
Why did Gündogan go to Barcelona?
In the summer of 2023, Gündogan rejected the offer of a new contract at City, where he had just won a fifth Premier League title and a first Champions League as captain. The German opted instead to join Barcelona, which raised plenty of eyebrows considering the Catalans’ well-documented financial issues.
“If I was going to move, there is only one club in the world that made sense. It was Barcelona or nothing,” Gündogan explained last June. “Ever since I was a little kid, I dreamed of wearing that shirt some day.”
Barcelona’s savings from Gündogan’s move to Manchester City
Things haven’t worked out the way the midfielder would’ve hoped and the club were keen to move him on this summer in an attempt to reduce their wage bill.
In agreeing to have his contract terminated in order to secure a return to City, Gündogan has effectively saved Barcelona around €37.5 million ($41.7 million), which was his gross salary for the remainder of his two-year contract.
In terms of financial fair play, Catalan news outlet Mundo Deportivo has reported Barça will be able to use 70% of Gündogan’s salary and amortization cost on their roster, which equates to approximately €13.13 million ($14.6 million). That will go some way to freeing up funds to register Olmo, who they signed for in the region €60 million ($66.72 million) but haven’t been able to play yet.