Gündogan’s Move to FC Barcelona: United by the Spirit of Xavi

Ilkay Gündogan, a midfielder for Manchester City, is rumored to be joining FC Barcelona due to the influence of Xavi, a former Barcelona player and current coach. Despite reportedly receiving better offers from other clubs, Gündogan is said to have chosen Barcelona because of Xavi’s interest in him. Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, has confirmed that Xavi has called Gündogan multiple times to try to convince him to join Barcelona. While there is no official announcement yet, some sources suggest that the deal is imminent.

Ilkay Gundogan signed a four-year contract extension with Manchester City in 2019, which means his contract is set to expire on June 30, 2023. Manchester City has reportedly offered him a new two-year deal with the option of a further season. However, Gundogan’s agent and father, Ilhan, has denied any suggestion that the midfielder has agreed to a new contract with City or any other club. Despite the rumors, there has been no official announcement regarding Gundogan’s contract status with Manchester City as of June 22, 2023.