With Ilkay Gundogan believed to have agreed to join FC Barcelona, a secret clause in his deal with the Spanish giants has now reportedly been revealed, one that allows him to leave the club before even playing a game.
The 32-year-old will reportedly leave the Etihad when his contract expires at the end of June, and make his way to the Camp Nou in what is expected to be a three-year deal.
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Gundogan was in talks with City over a new deal, but the length of their new contract for him was said to not have been sufficient for the German, with the Premier League club believed to have offered him a year with the option of a further year.
Barcelona have seemingly pounced on the situation, but their financial issues leaves things uncertain as they stand, with reports suggesting that the LaLiga club still needs to offload a number of players before they can register new signings for the upcoming season.
According to Fichajes, Gundogan has a clause in his deal with Barca that requires the Spanish side to confirm his registration before their opening fixture of the next season.
The midfielder is said to have the right to obtain a "letter of freedom" allowing him to leave if the worst-case scenario takes place and they are unable to register him for the 2023/24 LaLiga campaign.
It is understood Blaugrana defender Jules Kounde wanted similar assurances before he joined the Catalan giants last year.
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Despite Gundogan's concerns, though, Barca are said to be confident they will solve any issue that could stop them from meeting the registration requirements for the midfielder.
The report adds that the club's intention is to use the surplus that was made available to re-sign Lionel Messi to help even their finance books.
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