Barcelona midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has reportedly received a three-year contract offer from Qatari club Al Sadd, according to ESport3 via @BarcaUniversal. The German international is considering the move this summer.
The report suggests that Gundogan might also request a counteroffer. However, for Barcelona, it may be the right time to let go of Gundogan, who has a year left on his current contract at Camp Nou.
If Barcelona decides to keep the 33-year-old beyond the summer, they risk losing him for free in 2025. This wouldn’t be a significant financial loss since Gundogan joined Barcelona from Manchester City in the summer of 2023 on a free transfer.
Despite this, his absence in the midfield would be significant, considering the important role he played last season. Gundogan made 51 appearances across all competitions, scoring five goals and providing 14 assists.
As Gundogan approaches the latter stages of his career, a move away from Europe might be appealing. Many senior professionals, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and Neymar, have moved to Asian clubs.
The central midfielder is yet to win a trophy with Barcelona after a disappointing campaign last season, where they finished second in La Liga.