Ilkay Gundogan is set to leave Manchester City on a free transfer to join Barcelona.
City had hoped to keep Gundogan, 32, after his contract expired at the end of the month, but the German wanted a longer extension than the club offered. MEN Sport reported this week that City made a late attempt to keep their captain with an improved length of contract, but now, it is understood that Gundogan is unlikely to remain at the Etihad and is set for Barcelona.
Both Pep Guardiola and chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak had publicly expressed their hopes that Gundogan would stay, along with a number of first-team players. Guardiola said earlier this season that Gundogan had earned the right to decide his future following his title-winning brace against Aston Villa on the final day last season.
