Fresh reports from Italy are claiming that Ilkay Gundogan has his eyes fixated on a move to Serie A this summer.
The 34-year-old’s future has been a lingering sub-topic during Manchester City’s window, with speculation intensifying despite him having only signed a one-year contract extension earlier this year.
Pep Guardiola and senior figures at the Etihad Stadium had hoped Ilkay Gundogan’s leadership would remain invaluable during a transitional season for the club, but growing interest from across Europe has left the door open for a late departure.
Earlier this month, German media suggested Gundogan’s chances of leaving were “50/50”, with a possible Bundesliga return on the table, while other reports have pointed to strong interest from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and MLS.
Now, Italian media believe the next chapter in Gundogan’s career could be in Serie A. This follows a consistent trend of uncertainty across the City squad, with Ederson and Manuel Akanji also heavily linked with exits.
The possibility of losing Gundogan, however, carries particular weight, given his role as captain during the historic 2022/23 treble-winning season and his influence as a senior figure in Pep Guardiola’s dressing room.
According to a new report from Italian newspaper Tuttosport, as relayed by FcInterNews, Ilkay Gundogan ‘dreams’ of playing in Serie A, and is willing to offer potential suitors a helping hand in moving for his signature by spreading his salary over two years.
It is claimed that having now starred in the Bundesliga, La Liga, and the Premier League, Gundogan has instructed his agents to explore possible solutions in Italy and has been initially proposed to both Inter and Juventus.
However, it is detailed that the latter do not seem inclined to accelerate negotiations, while the Nerazzurri have other ideas on incoming profiles.
Should Gundogan succeed in pushing for a Serie A switch, it would represent the final major stop in a glittering European career. His adaptability and tactical intelligence make him a strong fit for Italian football, though convincing one of the league’s giants to move quickly may prove difficult given their current market strategies.
For City, an exit at this stage of the window would force Guardiola to lean even more heavily on recent recruitments such as Tijjani Reijnders and Nico Gonzalez, while also providing greater opportunities for Phil Foden in central areas.
His departure would undoubtedly be felt, but the club have been preparing for this eventuality across recent weeks. With the clock ticking down to deadline day, Gundogan’s “dream” of Serie A is the clearest sign yet that his decorated City spell could be entering its final days.
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