Barcelona in trouble? Gündogan could return to Manchester City

Barcelona is once again at the centre of the storm and this time it is none other than Ilkay Gundogan who is in the spotlight. The German, who arrived at the Catalan club with many expectations, seems to be leaving after just one season. But there is much more at stake than just a transfer. Barça's financial situation, which was already complicated, is now on the verge of complete disaster. And to make matters worse, Manchester City, his former club, is ready to open the doors to the player again and Pep Guardiola is already hinting at a return.

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Of course, the situation at Barcelona is not helping. After a mediocre season without a title and with five goals and 14 assists, Gündogan seems to have realised that the Catalan ship is not as stable as he thought. The internal atmosphere at Barça is also not the best, and both publicly and privately the players' effort and performance are being criticised. Therefore, Gündogan's departure increasingly seems like an inevitable solution to relieve the payroll and make room, as in the case of Dani Olmo.

And here the old saying applies: when a giant stumbles, the sharks come. Teams from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and even Turkey have already shown interest in the German midfielder. But the truth is that his return to Manchester City is as good as sealed. Who could resist the opportunity to return to the team with which he won 14 titles, scored 60 goals and provided 36 assists in 304 games?

Pep Guardiola, who built one of the most successful dynasties in modern football at City, is looking forward to the return of one of his most reliable players. Gundogan was a key building block in Guardiola's strategy and with the manager's blessing, the German just needs to give the green light to his return. It's a near-perfect combination: City need a strengthened midfield and Gundogan is looking for a team where he can really shine.

Barça, meanwhile, is in dire straits. Deco's offer, which included a swap between Gundogan and Rodri, was immediately rejected by Manchester City. To make matters worse, the Catalan club still has financial disputes with the English, who are demanding payment of the remaining amount of Ferran Torres by August 31st, otherwise they face legal action. This situation exposes Barcelona's financial wounds and at the same time shows the pressure the club is under to remain competitive.

Amid all this, the question remains: why would Barcelona be willing to let go of a player of Gündogan's caliber? The answer lies in the tightrope the club is walking. The Catalan financial crisis is no news to anyone, and easing the payroll may be the only viable way out in the short term. Dani Olmo, Barça's coveted target, arrived as a big signing. Now someone has to go to balance the finances.

It is ironic that a player of Gundogan's quality, who has been instrumental in so many of Manchester City's successes, is now being seen as a bargaining chip. And that says a lot about Barcelona's current state. The crisis is not just financial, it is also about identity, priorities and planning. The decision to sacrifice a player like Gundogan to reduce wage costs is symptomatic of a club that is literally cutting corners to survive.

With the transfer window now open, the next few days will be crucial for Gundogan, Barcelona and Manchester City. A return to the Etihad is becoming increasingly likely and City fans are already excited about the idea of ​​having an old acquaintance back in their team. On the other hand, Barça fans are wondering: what else does the club have to sacrifice to get out of the hole it is in? Due to this situation, the Blaugranas have started the second consecutive season without registering all their players and the German is one of them, having missed the first LaLiga matchday against Valencia.

Ultimately, this story of Gundogan and Barcelona is the perfect portrait of modern football: passion, money, crises and difficult decisions. Football is, after all, like a game of chess where the most valuable pieces don't always stay on the board. And Gundogan may be about to be sacrificed so that Barcelona can try to survive amidst the chaos.