admin The title-winning captain and Pep Guardiola’s finest bargain has signed for Barcelona and leaves as the symbol of Man City’s greatest season
Original release. Ilkay Gundogan was Pep Guardiola’s first signing at Manchester City. If there was a way to set the tone of the regime and let in a passerby belonging to the pinnacle of technical talent, Gundogan goes as a symbol of the historical pinnacle. He’s often had a flair for timing, both when selecting his team-mates and in recent years when he’s timed his arrival to the pits perfectly, and very few have ever staged a farewell as unusual as the German’s.
In the last two games he has won two trophies; But considering Arsenal returned at the end of the season and thus won the Premier League early, it could have been three out of three.Still, he’s the captain who won the treble, the man who won City’s first Champions League. On the following Saturdays, he achieved the all-time double after scoring the fastest ever goal in an FA Cup final in 13 seconds from 25 metres. There was only one Manchester derby in the FA Cup final, with Gundogan deciding in doubles. Fifth in the Premier League in six seasons, he owes something to his height in May, two games against Leeds and Everton. His outstanding impromptu start at Goodison Park was undoubtedly the highlight of the season, although without him there would have been enough glory.
But Gündogan has become an elegant entertainment provider. If Sergio Aguero made the most spectacular save en route to City champions on the last day of the game, his aftermath in 2022 was notable, scoring twice as a substitute and converting a 2-0 win at Aston Villa into victory. Gundogan said he was “furious” that he hadn’t gotten to his feet, but even when driven by momentum, he seems to have a calmness and rationality that makes him particularly dangerous.
Also highlighted his rediscovery. His career at City consisted of two halves and two roles.In the first half he was on or behind the ball, often looking for space, while Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva had a best eight free throws and Fernandinho was the best defensive midfielder. Gündogan did a great job replacing the Brazilian in another 2018/19 season in which City scored a hat-trick. His confidence in possession allowed him to dictate play from the inside and Fernandinho’s lack of ruthlessness left City vulnerable to counter-attacks at times, but at times he seemed like an odd man.
The last three years have brought about a metamorphosis. His footballing intelligence was often used when running the ball in the penalty area, his finishing technique. After 22 goals in his first four seasons at Etihad, Gündogan scored 38 goals in three of those seasons.
This turned it into a talisman; Perhaps the German would have replaced Fernandinho as captain without more goals, but they seemed to symbolize his superior stature, his position as one of City’s great figures, albeit in his own likable way.
There have long been references to this avid soccer brain. In 2020, Guardiola surprised by calling Gündogan’s name a potential false nine. Last year he named the German as City’s most likely player to become manager; If so, he will have an elite education. City’s victory over Inter means he has now played for four of the last five coaches to have won the Champions League, namely Jurgen Klopp, Hansi Flick, Thomas Tuchel and Guardiola.
Perhaps Guardiola’s protégé, Barcelona’s Xavi, will make that list.Gündogan’s prolificstreak and his ability to create big chances make him difficult to replace. City have agreed a £25million transfer fee for Mateo Kovacic, a player with similar technical talent. But while Gündogan has scored 60 goals for City, Kovacic has only scored six goals for Chelsea. He may have been a metronome, but he probably won’t be able to prove he was a poacher.
That Gundogan is bound for Barcelona feels instructive. Despite being Guardiola’s neighbour and the manager’s eagerness to keep an ally, it showed an independence of thought. Rewind seven years to when Gundogan joined City and he said “over the last weeks, the last months, I was sure it was time for me to have a new adventure, a new chapter and a new country”. He could use the same argument now and perhaps Barcelona retain a glamour that City still lack. It has given them the pull to attract the calibre of player they could not afford were a transfer fee required. It is notable, too, that for all the shared ideas between Guardiola and his old club, there are fewer shared personnel. Gundogan is likely to be in a midfield with Pedri and Gavi, the new Xavi and Iniesta, and the former City target Frenkie de Jong.
The departure of a player at the peak of his powers, when Barcelona have offered a longer contract, is a reminder that even City cannot always get their way in the transfer market. They have pulled out of previous deals due to cost. Not Gundogan’s. At £20m, he has been their finest bargain of the Guardiola years. And if he goes after their greatest season, perhaps Gundogan was clever enough to leave when his reputation has never been bigger.
