CAPTAIN'S HOMECOMING! Ilkay Gundogan Reunites With Man City In A Win-Win Transfer From Barcelona!

In an unexpected reunion that raked the Premier League, Manchester City have reportedly agreed to bring back former captain Ilkay Gundogan in a free transfer from Barcelona.

German midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, who won five PL titles, including a treble, as Man City's captain, lowered his wages to materialise a dream transfer to Barcelona in 2023. Under his reign, Barcelona finished second, just 10 points behind Real Madrid, to enter the semi-finals of the Champions League.

However, despite being the top performer, Barca's financial constraints and questionable leadership choices pushed Gundogan to the edge.

Exit rumors first flared up when Hansi Flick omitted Gundogan from the La Liga opener against Valencia. They wanted to get rid of the midfielder's contract to make space for Dani Olmo.

Meanwhile, a heartbroken Ilkay Gundogan dialled up Pep Guardiola who fast tracked the reunion process. Pep was elated to have his former captain back that too without any transfer fee.

That being said, as per the latest update by Fabrizio Romano, Ilkay Gundogan and Manchester City have reached an agreement on a 1+1 deal effective immediately. Gundo is on his way to Manchester to sign the paper and in a perfect world, he could start against Ipswich Town this weekend.

Needless to say, the urgency of Gundogan's reunion agreement signing reflects on City's enthusiasm for having a quality midfielder for nothing.

Notably, City was actively looking for an elite midfielder and striker during the off-season. However, the unwillingness to spend big and then having issues over inconsistent playing time hindered Pep's plan. Moreover, Julian Alvarez's transfer to Atletico Madrid and Oscar Bobb's injury left City's mid-field depth vulnerable.

Hence, with Ilkay Gundogan, Rodri can catch a break at midfield, and the former captain's leadership and versatility are added plus.

Of course, Gundogan is aware that he wouldn't get the field time as he used to since Phil Foden is pushing himself in. But at 33, the midfielder will be more than happy to be a part of a title-winning contending team.

Overall, the unprecedented transfer is a win-win deal for all the parties involved. For Barcelona, Gundogan's exit will free up the monetary space they desire. On the other hand, Gundogan's homecoming is a free pass for Man City, which was desperate for a midfielder.

Lastly, for the German national, ending his career at a team that he previously led to a treble is nothing but a fairytale most footballers could only dream of.