BARCELONA transfer chief Joan Laporta has revealed the reasons behind Ilkay Gundogan’s return to Manchester City.
Gundogan, 33, left Man City as a treble-winner last summer to join the Catalan outfit when his contract expired.
However, just one year later, he sealed a move back to his old stomping ground on a free transfer to reunite with Pep Guardiola and co.
His time in Catalonia came in a season in which Barcelona desperately struggled across the board.
It also saw Gundogan brutally call out his team-mates after their exit from the Champions League at the quarter-final stage, with his wife later forced to defend his “treble mentality”.
The German was reportedly the eighth-highest earner in the squad on £165,000 a week, but Barcelona needed to make room in their budget in order to register new signing Dani Olmo.
But Blaugrana chief Joan Laporta has insisted Gundogan left for sporting reasons, following a discussion with new manager Hansi Flick.
Speaking in a press conference on Tuesday, he said: “[Gundogan is] a great player and an excellent person. The year we spent with him showed us what he’s like.
“But after a meeting with [Hansi] Flick and assessing the situation of the squad, he decided he wanted to leave.
“The signing of Dani Olmo [meant] he was a player who performs a similar function to that of Gundo.
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“It’s purely a sporting decision. It wasn’t a financial one, but the financial repercussions have been good for us. It’s a sporting decision by Barca and Gundogan.
“He came without a transfer fee and it was fair that if he wanted to go to City there wouldn’t be a fee.
“It has had an impact on our accounts, but the reason was a sporting decision by the player.”
Gundogan made 51 appearances for Barca last season, scoring five goals and adding 14 assists – the most in the squad.
He has made two appearances off the bench for the Cityzens this season.
MAN CITY are favourites to win the Premier League title yet again – but there is one elephant in the room that threatens to put the skids under the Etihad giants.
Sunsport’s MARTIN LIPTON discusses what the next few months could hold with Head of Sport SHAUN CUSTIS….
Custis: So the big question – will there be a resolution this season?
Lipton: Yes…. probably! We know the case will start to be dealt with in October or November.
It will take at least a month to go through the evidence. So I suspect around March, April time, we will get a result. But that’s where it starts to get tricky.
Custis: Why is that?
Lipton: If the result is in City’s favour, that’s the end of the matter. They will be cleared. They will have no punishment to face.
But if City are found guilty, these will be the heaviest penalties ever imposed by the Premier League.
I suspect if they are found guilty, they will be expelled from the league or given a massive points deduction and a huge fine so that they’re not in the Premier League next season.
Check out the full discussion on Man City’s future.
