Tension at Barça over signing of Manchester City midfielder Gündogan

Ilkay Gundogan is one of the options to reinforce Barcelona midfield for next season. Negotiations are at an advanced stage for him to sign a contract for two seasons plus one more, but some tension has been unleashed with his arrival because the board are not clear about the salary he is demanding due to his age and, for now, contracts have not been signed pending final consensus.

Barça finally decided in favour of Gündogan as he is a player who can play both as a pivot and as an interior player with a quality that would allow him to adapt to the Blaugrana style without any problems. In addition, the player's own desire to move to Spotify Camp Nou paved the way, although it is true that his salary demands have always been high.

In fact, Manchester City put the brakes on the negotiations for his renewal because they did not want to enter into any kind of bidding. The English club offered him a one-year deal with a significant reduction in salary and he did not accept it. At Barça, there is total agreement on the length of the contract, but the salary must be adjusted. His agent has been reminding in recent weeks that Gündogan has offers but has not signed with anyone. And that is absolutely true.

The doubts about the operation come at the highest level of the club. There is no doubt about the enormous quality of the player, who is having an exceptional season, but there are doubts about the financial demands for a player who will turn 33 years old in October. There is a reluctance to pay him the salary he demands because Barça have to adhere to LaLiga's spending limit.

The still director of football, Mateu Alemany, is trying to smooth things over and bring all parties closer together. He understands that he is a player that Xavi wants for his next project and also the desire of the player and his family to come to Barcelona, but an effort will have to be made to get the final OK from Joan Laporta. The next few weeks will be decisive because City could return to the scene after the German's recent performances, including two goals in this weekend's 2-1 win over Leeds United.