Why Was Gundogan A Free Transfer? Barcelona’S Surprising Bargain

Barcelona signed Gundogan on a free transfer because they were trying to manage their wage bill. The Spanish club needed to lower their salary costs so they could register new players, including Dani Olmo, who they signed for €60 million (£51.6m, $65.5m). La Liga has a squad cost limit, and Barcelona had to comply with that rule. Gundogan, who wore the number eight during his first stint at the club, will wear the number 19.

This situation is not uncommon in professional soccer. Teams often release players who are nearing the end of their contracts, especially if they are high-earning players. This allows the team to free up salary space and then sign new players or extend the contracts of existing players. It’s all about balancing the books and managing the team’s budget.

In Gundogan’s case, he was a valuable player for Manchester City, but he was also a high earner. Barcelona, who were in need of a creative midfielder, were able to secure him on a free transfer, which was a great deal for them. However, it also meant that City, who wanted to keep Gundogan, had to let him go in order to comply with their own salary cap restrictions.

The decision to let Gundogan go was probably a tough one for Manchester City, but it was a smart move from a financial perspective. They were able to offload a high-earning player, freeing up funds to bring in new talent. Meanwhile, Barcelona got a quality player for free, which was a major boost to their squad. It’s a win-win situation, even if it meant saying goodbye to a talented player.