Ilkay Gündoğan’s summer arrival to Barcelona in 2023 was widely met with excitement. The veteran midfielder, who had just won a historic treble with Manchester City, was meant to provide leadership, vision, and consistency to a transitional Barcelona side. However, as the 23-24 season ended, Gündoğan’s time with the Catalan club has not gone as swimmingly as many expected. With the intense conflict in the 24-25 season-opening, the player relationship with the club is at the brim of collapse.
Barcelona’s Promise
When Gündoğan arrived after signing a two-year contract, with a third-year option, from Manchester City to strengthen what had been an all-conquering side under Guardiola and add versatility, vision, and goals (crucial ones too) to Xavi Hernández’s ranks, it was widely considered one of the summer’s best coups.
The German midfielder hit the ground running for his new club. His early showings in the league showcased not just that poise on the ball but intelligence off it and ability to control games. However, as the season went on, there were cracks in Gündoğan’s relationship with his new side. Stories emerged of a fractious working relationship between player and manager. Technically mediated by intermediaries close to the club, Gündoğan was said to be disconnected from his role at the club and how he had been deployed. A defensive midfielder capable of influencing play from deep, he was regularly asked to perform more attacking duties for Barcelona but struggled to offer the same level of productivity.
But it wasn’t just about playing matters; in private moments, there were also the murmurings that all was not right behind the scenes. Dissatisfied after leaving a well-oiled machine at Manchester City and coming to Barcelona instead of getting good play is being ridiculed by the board and teammates.
Dressing Room Fallout
Compounding matters for Gündoğan were the tensions in the dressing room. The German had been a popular figure among his teammates at Manchester City, but things didn’t click as quickly with Barcelona’s squad. Some players reportedly distrusted him because they felt he was an outsider who hadn’t yet earned his spot on the team. This fueled Barcelona’s on-field challenges even more, with inconsistent results leading to fingers being pointed and players dodging responsibility.
In several events, Gündoğan was frustrated as he hinted at his irritation toward the team’s play and some of his teammates. Although no one was explicitly named in the statements, they generally served to highlight the ever-growing disconnect between the player and the other members of the team.
Xavi was caught in a dilemma at Barcelona. As the coach, he was under immense pressure to restore the club to its former glory. On one side, he needed to keep a player like Gundogan motivated and happy; on the other, he needed to keep the team, which still has not adapted to his ideas. Despite his best efforts, Xavi was unable to find the right balance. His tactics, which included trying things with Gundogan in the wrong places and roles, actively did nothing, and the public lost confidence. The German midfielder’s performance dipped, negatively affecting the coach, who thought he could make headway playing in the positions he wanted.
Ilkay Gundogan’s Journey
At this crucial stage of the season, Gündoğan’s relationship with Barcelona reached the lowest point. Pep Guardiola contacted Barcelona to bring the midfielder back to the Etihad. Barcelona’s new coach, Hansi Flick, hopes to keep the midfielder and repair broken trust. Gundogan misses Barcelona’s first match with Hansi Flick addressing the situation, saying.
“As you know, he has had some problems and felt a bit dizzy. We agreed that he would stay at home, and I spoke to him to see how he felt, but what we said to each other remains between us. I have the feeling that he will stay.”
Although Barcelona wants to keep the player in their team so much, mainly because their squad is not deep, Gündoğan’s behavior seemed obvious regarding his reluctance to remain in the club. Occasionally, he could play well, but his readiness to leave the team was evident, and nothing could prevent him from doing it with time.
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