Every year since Pep Guardiola has been at Manchester City, a club legend has departed.
In 2017 it was Pablo Zabaleta, in 2018 it was Yaya Toure. Vincent Kompany left on a high in 2019, and David Silva returned home a year later. Sergio Aguero was out of contract in 2021, before Fernandinho went back to Brazil last year. 2023 is the year that Ilkay Gundogan leaves the Etihad, with his final act being to lift the Champions League trophy.
City know how to say goodbye properly to their legends, and they also know how to replace them. It might take a year or two - as it did in the case of Kompany and Aguero, but City will undoubtedly find someone able to fill the huge gaps left by those stellar names.
