Why FC Barcelona want to offload Ilkay Gundogan after just one year?

Ilkay Gundogan, who was uncertain about his future at FC Barcelona, is said to have contacted Manchester City regarding the potential of coming back. Although Gundogan's future has been discussed with Barcelona manager Hansi Flick, the latter expresses optimism that the player would stick there for the 2024–25 season. 

According to Catalunya Radio, Gundogan got in touch with City a few days ago to inquire about the possibility of him playing for his old team again. It has been reported that Pep Guardiola's team is "open" to the idea of getting Gundogan back to the FC Barcelona team despite just a year away.

During the remaining weeks of the window, Gundogan's future is now under scrutiny after rumors that he had requested to depart circulated over the weekend. According to Flick's remarks following the victory over Valencia, Gundogan's future is genuinely unclear, despite the fact that Turkish teams are rumored to be interested in the midfield player. 

But after a year, the club has undergone a significant transition, with Hansi Flick taking over as manager. According to Spanish reports, the former head coach of Bayern Munich was eager to let go of Gundogan during the summer as FC Barcelona struggled with Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations.

Does Gundogan’s transfer depend on Pep Guardiola’s decision?

Although Pep Guardiola and Ilkay Gundogan have a great relationship, there is no certainty that the former Bayern Munich manager is going to be there when the 2025–2026 season begins. Going into more detail, Sky Sports says that the Catalan head coach's future will probably be decided by a deadline set by the Blues administration. 

It's thought that City wants to know whether Guardiola will sign a new contract by Christmas. If he decides to leave after his contract expires, the Blues will have six months to find a replacement. Ilkay Gundogan's transfer will also depend whether Pep Guardiola will stay with the defending champions beyond this season or not.