Barcelona president Joan Laporta has responded to comments made by Ilkay Gundogan following his return to Manchester City.
Gundogan departed City last summer after seven successful years, choosing to join Barcelona on a free transfer due to delays in the club meeting his contract demands.
However, a year later, he has returned to City after being informed that he wouldn’t receive the playing time he desired under Barcelona’s new manager, Hansi Flick.
Barcelona’s well-documented financial issues have fueled speculation about Gundogan’s exit.
The midfielder hinted that his departure was partly orchestrated to facilitate the registration of new signing Dani Olmo.
In a parting statement, he remarked: “Now I am leaving in a difficult situation, but if my departure can help the club financially, it makes me a bit less sad.”
However, Laporta has now denied that financial motivations were behind Barcelona’s decision to let Gundogan leave just 12 months after his arrival.
Contradicting Gundogan directly, Laporta stated: “Ilkay Gündogan is an excellent player and person.
“The year we have had with him has been fantastic.
“After a meeting with Flick and assessing the situation of the squad, he decided that he wanted to leave.
“It is a sporting decision, exclusively.
“With the incorporation of Dani Olmo, he was a player who performs a similar function to that of Gündo.
“It was a sporting decision of the player and the club.
“I have heard that it is a financial decision, but no.
“It’s a sporting decision, by Barça, by Gündogan and by City because he has been brought back.”
Laporta also clarified why Barcelona, which did not need to offload Gundogan for financial reasons, agreed to let the German midfielder leave a year before his contract expired.
The contract had a €400 million release clause.
“At the time, Gündo came without a transfer fee and it was only fair that there was no transfer fee,” he said.
“It has had an economic impact, but the reason has been a sporting decision.”
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