Barcelona’s unexpected clause: Gündoğan faces race against time

MADRID: Barcelona’s recent acquisition, Ilkay Gündoğan, is on the brink of a potential exit from the club due to a surprising clause in his contract. The German midfielder, who made a switch from Manchester City to Barcelona just weeks ago, could depart the Catalan club without a fee if he isn’t registered by the upcoming Sunday.

Gündoğan’s move to Barcelona was seen as a significant transfer, especially after his stellar performance at Manchester City. Under Pep Guardiola’s management, he played a pivotal role in City’s Treble-winning season, notably scoring twice in the FA Cup final.

Read more: Why Germany’s Ilkay Gündogan is moving to Barcelona

However, the joy of the transfer might be short-lived. A report from Forbes has highlighted a clause in Gündoğan’s contract that allows him to leave Barcelona as a free agent if he isn’t registered before their season opener against Getafe. This situation is further complicated by Barcelona’s financial constraints. Even if Gündoğan were to leave, he would still be entitled to a full year’s salary, amounting to £8.6m, as part of his two-year deal with the club.

Barcelona’s president, Joan Laporta, is reportedly banking on the sales of players like Ousmane Dembele and Franck Kessie to balance the financial books, which would then facilitate Gündoğan’s registration.

This isn’t the first time Barcelona has faced such registration challenges. Last year, they managed to register four new signings, including Robert Lewandowski, just a day before the season’s commencement.