Barcelona President Joan Laporta has confirmed that Ilkay Gündogan’s departure from the club was driven by sporting considerations. According to Fabrizio Romano, Laporta stated, “Following the signing of Dani Olmo, the role of Gündogan was not clear, because they shared a very similar position.”
Gündogan, a 33-year-old midfielder, had recently rejoined Manchester City after a brief stint at Barcelona. His return to the Premier League club was confirmed on 21 August 2024. Laporta praised Gündogan, describing him as “an excellent person and player.”
The decision to let Gündogan go came shortly after Barcelona secured the services of Dani Olmo. Olmo’s registration with La Liga was officially completed on 27 August 2024, and his signing was announced by Laporta on 3 September 2024.
Gündogan’s move back to Manchester City was also addressed by Pep Guardiola, who confirmed that the decision was made immediately after Gündogan’s signing. Guardiola assured that there would be no further departures from the club following Gündogan’s return.