Why İlkay Gündoğan has agreed to leave Barcelona

An insight into the thought process behind Barcelona star İlkay Gündoğan’s decision to call time on his stint with the club has today been forthcoming online.

The name of midfielder Gündoğan has of course positioned itself front and centre in the headlines in Catalunya’s capital across the day to date.

This comes amid widespread confirmation that, should all go according to plan, the German international will be on the move before the summer is out.

So, just weeks on from Gündoğan being labelled a key figure in the setup of new Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick, what changed?

As has so often proven the case at the Camp Nou over recent years, the decision to shift the 33-year-old off their books, on the Blaugrana’s side, is a financial one.

Gündoğan is one of the higher earners on the payroll in Catalunya, with the club’s difficulties in selling other leading contributors meaning that the one-time Borussia Dortmund man is now considered the best option.

The player himself, until this week, had seemed opposed to an exit, but is now actively exploring a move back to a Manchester City outfit whom he departed just last summer.

What, then, proved decisive in changing the mind of the midfield creator?

As confirmed by numerous sources across Spain tonight, Gündoğan has essentially agreed to move on to do Barcelona a favour.

The German could easily have dug his feet in, and refused to depart so as to secure the considerable wages remaining on his deal with the Blaugrana.

But, according to Alex Pintanel of Relevo:

‘The player doesn’t want any problems and is willing to help Barça. Flick was counting on him and his departure is due to financial reasons.’

Conor Laird | GSFN