Real Madrid Icon Toni Kroos Reacts Strongly to Barcelona's MUDDLING Take on Ilkay Gundogan Transfer

As the 2024/25 football season begins, FC Barcelona has substantial off-field issues that will have an impact on their performance on the field. The club's financial struggles in the transfer market, combined with management issues, have resulted in reports of important players leaving. These off-field troubles threaten to overshadow the team's on-field efforts as they prepare for a difficult season.

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Toni Kroos reacts to the news of Ilkay Gundogan’s potential exit from Barcelona

Recently retiring from his career with Real Madrid, Toni Kroos has expressed opinions on the reports of Barcelona's choice to let Ilkay Gundogan go on a free transfer this summer. Originally joining Barcelona from Manchester City last year, Gundogan only spent one season at the Camp Nou.

With five goals and fourteen assists in 51 games across every competition, Gundogan made a major impression during his one season with Barcelona. In 36 La Liga, he notably scored all five of his goals and dished nine of his assists. Barcelona lost their La Liga title to their biggest opponents, Real Madrid, notwithstanding his efforts.

Though Gundogan's deal with Barcelona was meant to last until 2026, there were whispers of his leaving this summer. Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano claims Barcelona let the player leave the team free from a transfer cost.

Fabrizio Romano additionally disclosed that Manchester City, Gundogan's previous team, is aggressively seeking to reacquire their former captain through a costless transfer, subject to Gundogan's decision and with Pep Guardiola's endorsement for his comeback.

Toni Kroos, who was a teammate of Gundogan for the German national team during Euro 2024, voiced his astonishment at the recent occurrence with a concise exclamation of "Wow," as reported by Reshad Rahman on Twitter.

Following the tournament, both Kroos and Gundogan declared their retirements from international football. Although Kroos has completely retired from the sport, Gundogan is anticipated to persist in his club career, potentially making a comeback to Manchester City.

Barcelona's financial difficulties, which have impeded their capacity to sign new players, may have affected their choice to allow Gundogan to depart, despite the new manager Hansi Flick's wish to keep him. Gundogan was not included in Barcelona's 2-1 triumph against Valencia in their first La Liga match last weekend.