Ilkay Gundogan is set to leave Manchester City on a free transfer to join Barcelona.
City had hoped to keep Gundogan, 32, after his contract expired at the end of the month, but the German wanted a longer extension than the club offered. MEN Sport reported this week that City made a late attempt to keep their captain with an improved length of contract, but now, it is understood that Gundogan is unlikely to remain at the Etihad and is set for Barcelona.
Both Pep Guardiola and chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak had publicly expressed their hopes that Gundogan would stay, along with a number of first-team players. Guardiola said earlier this season that Gundogan had earned the right to decide his future following his title-winning brace against Aston Villa on the final day last season.
Since then, Gundogan assumed the captain's armband this season, scored back-to-back braces in the Premier League in April to secure the title, and then got two goals in the FA Cup final at Wembley against Manchester United. His exit also means that his final act in a City shirt was to lift the Champions League trophy in Istanbul, completing a historic treble.
ALSO READ: Mateo Kovacic could be the underwhelming signing Man City need to begin treble defence
Gundogan would join Xavi's Barcelona on a three-year deal, which is more than the two years City are said to have put on the table. He leaves with City's blessing, and the Blues will now look at their options. The Blues have had a bid for Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic accepted, with a fee of £25m plus £5m in add-ons agreed on Wednesday.
In his annual interview, Al Mubarak said this week that Gundogan 'will go down in the folklore of Manchester City forever.'
"He's a representation of this club in terms of hard work, commitment always, humbleness, winning mentality," the chairman said. "And when you need him, when you need him in the big games, he's always there. And I hope there's more chapters to that legacy. Obviously, Ilkay has to make big life decisions for him. But in the end, it’s fully understandable, we always have to respect our players, their wishes."
Gundogan leaves having won five Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four Carabao Cups, two Community Shields and the Champions League, scoring 60 goals in 304 appearances, plus registering 40 assists. He was Guardiola's first signing at the club in 2016, and leaves as one of many recent club legends.
