Ilkay Gundogan exit makes sense financially – but Barcelona are now vulnerable | OneFootball

After one year at Barcelona, Ilkay Gundogan has left Catalonia to return to Manchester City, dealing a significant blow to Hansi Flick's squad ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

It was only last year that Gundogan left City, a club he won 14 trophies with in just seven years, to join Barcelona under the management of Xavi Hernandez. The Catalans were the reigning La Liga champions, and had hopes of going back-to-back for the first time in nearly a decade.

Financial struggles, front office drama, and lackluster performances on the pitch made Gundogan's first La Liga season a far cry from the success he experienced in the Premier League. The 33-year-old looked primed to help his new manager challenge Real Madrid for the Spanish crown, but in a shocking decision, he will return back to Pep Guardiola's squad on a free transfer.

Now, Barcelona must face a future without the midfielder as they embark on their 2024/25 La Liga campaign.

Ilkay Gundogan won 14 trophies with Manchester City. / Michael Steele/GettyImages

Gundogan's exit leaves Barcelona vulnerable for 2024/25

Gundogan's departure leaves Hansi Flick without one of Barcelona's most consistent midfielders from last season. The former German international made 51 appearances across all competitions, and recorded five goals and 13 assists.

The loss of depth will hurt Flick's team in the long-run. Frenkie de Jong and Gavi are sidelined with injuries, and Pedri is also just returning from a knee problem of his own. Now, without Gundogan to shore-up an already young, injury-prone midfield, Barcelona could be left in a bad spot as their schedule and competition picks up.

In the grand scheme of Barcelona's strongest team, though, the midfielder will not leave an irreplaceable hole in Flick's XI. Sure, Gundogan's experience and consistency will be missed, but the new manager is fully leaning into the youthful talent on his team, led by Euro 2024 breakout star, Lamine Yamal.

Ilkay Gundogan was one of Barcelona's most consistent players last season. / Pedro Salado/GettyImages

In fact, 17-year-old Marc Bernal got the nod in the midfield alongside 20-year-old Marc Casado against Valencia at the weekend, and both players were instrumental in Barcelona's 2-1 victory to kick off the 2024/25 La Liga season.

The abundance of young stars on Barcelona ultimately lowered the value of Gundogan's position on the squad, especially when his transfer freed up enough capital to finally register blockbuster signing Dani Olmo with La Liga.

Despite the off-field antics, the future at Barcelona is very bright, and they have all the pieces necessary to challenge Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid this season, even without Gundogan.