The DFB stars at 3: 3 in the Nations League in September 2022.Image: www.imago-images.de / imago images
Soccer International
Although İlkay Gündoğan is extremely important at Manchester City and the player and the team have been successful for seven years now, there are always rumors of a change about the 32-year-old German international. Last summer, FC Bayern is said to have thought about a commitment, like almost every other top club in Europe before it.
Gündoğan (ur) and Manchester City have won the English championship four timesImage: ap / Dave Thompson
Speculations ran hot recently when Gündoğan’s uncle, who is also his agent, was spotted in Barcelona. There he is said to have met with Barça officials. Now Barça sports director Mateu Alemany has also commented on the rumours.
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Barça sporting director admits meeting Gündoğan’s uncle
On the sidelines of the top Europa League game between FC Barcelona and Manchester United, Alemany was approached by “Moviestar” about the alleged meeting. “We spoke to his uncle,” he admitted openly. But only because he “is also Andreas Christensen’s advisor at the same time.”
Barça sporting director Mateu Alemany was caught meeting with a player’s agent.Image: imago / NurPhoto
The central defender, who was signed by Chelsea in the summer, has only been used sporadically (eleven league games) and they wanted to assure their advisor that they were still very satisfied with the new signing. “We only talked about Christensen, his achievements and how happy we are with him as a footballer,” stresses Alemany.
Barcelona still have high hopes for 26-year-old Christensen (right).Image: imago / ZUMA Wire
With regard to Gündoğan, however, he has to admit: “It is my duty to know that Gündoğan is on a free transfer in the summer.” That means: The German is one of the best sixes in the world and if you can have him on a free transfer then you should consider that too.
Gündoğan change in the summer: can Pep keep him?
The rumors are fueled by the fact that Gündoğan would fit perfectly into the Catalans’ possession-oriented system, something Spanish media like to point out.
The 43-year-old Xavi would like to have Gündoğan in his team.Image: AP / Joan Monfort
Pep Guardiola, who perfected the style of play in Barcelona at the time and is now implementing the system at Manchester City, also knows this. Gündoğan also plays a key role in Manchester: City only took the lead against Arsenal on Wednesday, Gündoğan preparing the interim 2-1 lead by Jack Grealish.
Despite the Germany international’s contract expiring at the end of the season, Guardiola will be keen to keep him. The club, which is owned by the Abu Dhabi ruling family, should have enough money to offer the 32-year-old what is probably the last major contract of his career.
Guardiola (left) likes to use Gündoğan as an extended arm to make tactical changes in the game.Image: AP / Jose Breton
City also have certain arguments on their side in sporting terms: Gündoğan would definitely continue to play at the top level in Manchester, and he will probably never again enjoy a standing like that under his Spanish coach. Only if Gündoğan wants to look for a new adventure towards the end of his career would Guardiola tremble for his captain.
The biggest sporting event in the world is coming up. On Monday night, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles will face off in the Super Bowl in Glendale. As every year, the mega event will once again draw millions of people around the world to their screens. In Germany, ProSieben and Dazn will broadcast from 12:30 a.m.
