A surprising clause unearthed in Ilkay Gundogan’s contract has brought to light the potential for his departure from Barcelona this upcoming weekend.
Despite a mere six weeks having elapsed since the German midfielder’s transition from Manchester City to the Catalan club, he may find himself facing the prospect of departing as early as Sunday, should his registration fail to be finalized by then.
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Gundogan, a crucial figure in Manchester City’s remarkable Treble victory, enthusiastically described his shift to the Nou Camp as a “dream,” opting for a free transfer to make the move.
Contrary to an extended contract offer from City, Gundogan opted for a reduction in salary to facilitate his transition to Barcelona.
As the impending kickoff of the new La Liga season draws near, Ilkay Gundogan’s formal registration as a Barcelona player remains in a state of limbo.
Forbes has brought to light an intriguing aspect of his contract, revealing that a provision grants Gundogan the liberty to depart the club as a free agent if he is not officially registered before the upcoming clash with Getafe on Sunday.
Adding a layer of intricacy to the situation, reports emerging from Spain indicate that even if this clause were triggered, Gundogan would still be eligible for a full year’s salary – a circumstance that fiscally challenged Barcelona would undoubtedly strive to prevent.
Gundogan’s initial period at Barcelona has been marred by challenges, including an injury he sustained during the team’s preseason tour in the United States.
Following his second-half participation in the loss against Arsenal, Gundogan sustained an injury that forced him to exit the 3-0 victory against archrivals Real Madrid in Texas.
Barcelona enters the defense of their La Liga championship title with a mere 13 players officially registered for the upcoming season.
Out of this roster, two players are on the brink of departure from the club in the imminent days. Ousmane Dembele is anticipated to finalize a transfer to Paris Saint-Germain, while Franck Kessie is the subject of a bid from Saudi Pro League outfit Al Ahli.
