The key factor behind Ilkay Gundogan’s contract extension

Manchester City will say goodbye to a big of their midfield, a man who argued, who scored goals and made goals and defined an era. But only one. Although Kevin de Bruyne’s summer deduction was confirmed, the contract of Ilkay Gundogan was extended.

A clause in his contract was caused. “What will happen, I don’t know, but he has one more year on his contract here,” Pep Guardiola said. After his return from Barcelona, ​​Gundogan signed a one -year agreement with an extra year, depending on how involved he was. He has already made 43 appearances, of which 31 starts, which amounts to more than 2700 minutes on the field. Only Josko Gvardiol has appeared in more games for City this season. Gundogan, who is believed to be in his first place in his first place, now seems to be a disorder in this city group, immune to injuries in a year when many another was beaten.

If City is in the midst of a rebuild, with De Bruyne, with questions or others of their group of thirty-Somethings will follow, their oldest outdoor driver has been tied up. It was sometimes a difficult return for Gundogan: the captain who lifted three trophies in a quick succession before leaving in 2023 looked at the pace and exposed some of their defeats. It is chastised, cruel, a sad face.

Of course, however, Guardiola saw signs that an old Gundogan is the Gundogan of old. The German has his fifth consecutive start in the 5-2 defeat of Crystal Palace, who completed the match.

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“The Gundo here and the Gundo in Bournemouth, Leicester – that’s the gundo I remember,” his manager said. ‘The one who helped us win the Dis Side and the Fourizer and was such an important player. His defensive intelligence, the way he arrives, helps us great. As a team, everyone was off and among their best. But if a team plays well, the individual levels rise. Without it, you can’t do that. ‘

There was merit for his argument. Gundogan was a brilliant player in a brilliant team in 2022-23. In a failed side, his shortcomings were more visible. There were the matches where City was overwhelmed in midfield and caught on the counter -attack. He quoted the age of his first signing for City when he burned City an old team. In January, Guardiola said Gundogan did not “run the legs to run 40 m”. In February, he said Gundogan noted that an ‘incredible’ difference between the Premier League he left and the season’s division. When it is faster, it sometimes has hardly suited for a man who delays.

But Guardiola noted that De Bruyne’s brilliance against Palace and argued that the younger legs around him were a factor. They can also help to expand Gundogan’s time in the team if they do fullback and wing of all action much of the run. And if the players around him can make him look better, it applies especially to one: Rodri’s return will free Gundogan from defensive duties, allow him to spend more time in the last third place and mean that he has to do less unconvincing impressions of a defensive midfielder.

They did well a few years ago, but were only on the field for 111 minutes this season. Can Gundogan return with Rodri to the match -winning role he had? He still has the football brain and presumably the ability to sniff out an opportunity and skill. But those 43 games that brought this campaign only two goals and three assistance; Partly because he was played deeper, but perhaps because of a lack of dynamics.

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But with Nico Gonzalez and Omar Marmoush already showing up, if there is a luxurious replacement for De Bruyne, it may seem likely that Gundogan has a backup herbenut, possibly even a surplus to the requirements in moving the city’s midfield. He played more than they expected this season, which, just as in another thing, can be attributed to Rodri’s absence. Those 43 appearances can turn 58 by the end of the World Cup.

He is nine months older than De Bruyne and will be almost 36 if his extended contract expires. And there can be an irony. Gundogan wanted a three -year agreement in 2023. Barcelona offered it, got him for the first year of the three when he was closest to his best, and City now made him rally for the other two. He joined them in 2016 and now, after a year in captivity, it was tied up to 2026.

It is a tribute to Gundogan’s lasting power. But although City is now guaranteed to see more of him, they may want to see less of him on the field next year.