Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has denied rumors circulating that German midfielder Ilkay Guendogan wants to leave the Catalan giants.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Recent reports have suggested that Barcelona officials are keen to offload Gundogan before the summer transfer window closes, with the player’s high wages said to be one of the reasons.
The 33-year-old midfielder has recently been linked with Turkish club Fenerbahce.
However, Flick revealed that he confirmed Gundogan was not going anywhere after the German coach spoke to the player.
“I really appreciate him as a player and a person. I speak to him often, we have a good relationship and I know him very well. I am sure he will stay (at Barcelona),” Flick was quoted as saying by The New York Times after Barcelona’s first match in the 2024/25 LaLiga season.
Barcelona themselves won 2-1 when visiting Valencia’s headquarters on Sunday (18/8). Hugo Duro put the hosts ahead before a pair of Robert Lewandowski goals secured the win for Barcelona.
Gundogan himself was absent from the match. Flick revealed that the 33-year-old midfielder was rested due to a minor injury.
“On Monday (12/8) there was a tear (on his eyebrow) and some problems because of that, so we decided to rest him,” said Flick.
Gundogan himself joined from Manchester City last season. He now has less than a year left on his contract, but so far there has been no talk of extending the player’s contract.