Ilkay Gündogan was one of the big surprises of last summer when he finalized his return to Manchester City. After a year at FC Barcelona, where he was the best player of the season, the German decided to return to the Etihad Stadium, arriving as a luxury reinforcement to provide depth to Pep Guardiola in the midfield.
However, injuries have forced him to step up, and the crisis of the 'skyblues' has made him a target of criticism. Without Rodri leading the team's midfield, the shortcomings of the German have been laid bare and his level is being extremely discreet.
Gündogan's Future, Far from City
In the 23 matches played this season, the player has barely scored two goals, leaving behind that Gündogan who amazed the football world during the year of the 'citizens' treble. Although the poor performance is a general issue, the reality is that, at 34 years old, the player seems not to be up to the circumstances and the Mancunians are considering signing a midfielder in the winter market, which could relegate him to obscurity.
For this reason, and beyond his good relationship with Guardiola, Ilkay's future seems to be increasingly far from City. His contract expires at the end of the season, and several clubs are tracking him, with Inter Milan and Fenerbahçe being two of the most interested. Despite the criticism received for his departure, time has proven Barça right.