Ilkay Gundogan had trouble with attitude of 2 teammates before leaving Barcelona due to reserved and individualistic mentality: Reports
Ilkay Gundogan’s departure from Barcelona in the summer transfer window was certainly unexpected, as the German midfielder returned to Manchester City after just one season in Spain. While his performances on the pitch were satisfactory, Gundogan reportedly had issues with the attitudes of certain Barcelona players during his time there.
According to journalist Joan Fontes on the ‘Bar Canaletes’ podcast, the 33-year-old was particularly disappointed with two players last season. One of them was his Germany teammate Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who has been a key figure at Barcelona since joining in 2014. Gundogan was reportedly dissatisfied with the goalkeeper’s reserved personality, stating that he expected Ter Stegen to show more leadership.
The second player, surprisingly, was his former Borussia Dortmund teammate Robert Lewandowski. Despite Lewandowski’s impressive record of 63 goals in 99 appearances since joining Barcelona in 2022, Gundogan was reportedly unhappy with his individualistic personality and his failure to bridge the gap between younger and senior players.
This certainly isn’t the first time Gundogan has expressed displeasure with Barcelona players. He was vocal about Ronald Araujo’s reckless red card against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-finals, criticizing the action for making it easier for the French side, who won 4-1 in the second leg.
While Gundogan may have been frustrated with the standards of a few players, it is widely argued that his departure was necessary for Barcelona to register players. His high wages were a financial burden, and only after his move back to England, the club was able to register Dani Olmo, who signed from RB Leipzig for a reported fee of €55 million.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta explains the decision to let Ilkay Gundogan leave
While it is believed that Gundogan’s departure helped reduce Barcelona’s financial burden, club president Joan Laporta stated that it was the German midfielder’s decision to leave Spain and rejoin his former club, Manchester City.
Laporta revealed that Gundogan had a meeting with new head coach Hansi Flick before deciding to depart. His remaining two-year contract was terminated, and Manchester City signed him on a free transfer on a one-year deal, including an option for extension.
"Ilkay Gündogan is an excellent player and person. The year we have had with him has been fantastic. 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 Gundo. It was a sporting decision of the player and the club. I have heard that it is a financial decision, but no," Laporta said (via barcablaugranes).
Despite the midfielder’s departure, the Catalan club have started the season strongly, as they remain the only team in La Liga with a perfect record after four games. They currently lead Real Madrid by four points and are expected to compete for the title against their longtime rivals.