‘100% decided’ - Fabrizio Romano reveals Barcelona stance on key aspect of Ilkay Gundogan’s transfer

Fabrizio Romano has claimed Barcelona have ‘100% decided’ to allow Ilkay Gundogan to leave the club for free.

The midfielder could be set to seal a return to Manchester City, 14 months after leaving the Premier League champions to join Barcelona. But after one season in La Liga, Gundogan is expected to move on, and City are open to the return of their former captain.

Reports in Spain had suggested Barcelona’s financial situation would result in the player being allowed to leaving for free in order to get his wages off their books, a claim Romano has now repeated.

“Understand Barcelona have 100% decided to let Ilkay Gündogan leave for free,” the transfer specialist wrote on X. “Manchester City are working on details of the deal with Gündogan’s agent now in UK to get the comeback done.

“As revealed earlier, Pep Guardiola said YES. Up to Gündo’s green light.”

Guardiola revealed last week that City could be in the market for midfield additions before the window shuts, allowing Rodri to be given a break, and Gundogan could represent a low-cost option who is already familiar with the inner workings of City.

The ex-Germany international left the club last year due to the slow nature of their contract approach. Gundogan has since admitted that had a new deal been on the table sooner, he might have remained in Manchester.

The 33-year-old made 304 appearances for City and ended his seven-year spell with the club by leading them to a maiden Champions League triumph, and just the second treble in the history of English football.