Barcelona hit back at Ilkay Gundogan, explain reason for Man City transfer

Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has been called out by Barcelona president Joan Laporta after comments he made about his return to the Premier League club.

Gundogan left City last summer after seven trophy-laden years playing under Pep Guardiola. The German star joined Barcelona and impressed under Xavi Hernandez.

However, Gundogan rejoined Man City this summer after being told he wouldn’t get the playing time he wanted under new manager Hansi Flick.

Gundogan while addressing fans about his departure suggested his exit was partly manufactured in order for his old club to register new signing Dani Olmo.

However, Laporta has now moved to deny that there were any financial motivations from Barcelona’s side in allowing Gundogan to leave just 12 months after arriving.

Directly contradicting Gundogan, Laporta said: “Ilkay Gündogan is an excellent player and person. The year we have had with him has been fantastic,” he told a press conference on Tuesday.

“After a meeting with Flick and assessing the situation of the squad, he decided that he wanted to leave. It is a sporting decision, exclusively. With the incorporation of Dani Olmo, he was a player who performs a similar function to that of Gündo.

“It was a sporting decision of the player and the club. I have heard that it is a financial decision, but no. It’s a sporting decision, by Barça, by Gündogan and by City because he has been brought back.”

Laporta also explained why Barcelona allowed the German to leave his contract a year early – a contract which had a €400 million release clause.

“At the time, Gündo came without a transfer fee and it was only fair that there was no transfer fee,” he said. “It has had an economic impact, but the reason has been a sporting decision.”