Guardiola, left, Gundugan
Guardiola confirms Gundogan’s contract extension in Man City
Pep Guardiola has all but confirmed that Ilkay Gundogan will extend his deal at Manchester City as he talked up his value next season.
The German left the club in 2023 after playing a vital role during their treble winning campaign. He captained the side, lifting the Champions League trophy aloft, before leaving for Barcelona. He returned 12 months later though but there has been doubt over his future beyond this season.
Guardiola, who has presided over a difficult campaign, has now stated that despite Gundogan’s age he stands to play a huge role going into next season with the 12 month option in his deal due to be triggered.
It is the same for Bernardo Silva with the Portuguese playmaker set to remain in Manchester despite a below par showing this term as age catches up with him. The only question mark is the one still hanging over Kevin De Bruyne.
Guardiola said: “There are players here who are over 30 that will be part of the future of this club – except Kevin, where he and the club will decide. The others have contracts and next season I expect them to be here. They are going to help us? Yes or yes!
“Next season there will be a lot of games and this lot of games you cannot do it just with new ones, or the old ones – you have to be all together! I count on Gundo, I count on Bernie, I count on all the players who have a Man City contract – they are there! No doubts about that. And they will be really important at the end of this season, and next season.”
Gundogan, De Bruyne and Bernardo have all been pillars of his success in Manchester. They were signed around the same period, arriving within two years of each other, and Guardiola maintains his trophy-laden tenure couldn’t have happened without them.
“I cannot figure out my period here without Gundogan, Bernardo, Kevin,” he said. “I’m more grateful than you could ever imagine. The success we’ve had as a manager impossible without these players.
The legacy we are going to leave behind for the next ones – the players, sporting directors, CEO’s – from the last decade or two, it happens because of these type of players. Not just those three, others too like John [Stones], players who are not here anymore. The reality is today, tomorrow, next days, we try to win games and I take decisions. It’s never ever about them.”
Several outsiders have put City’s below par campaign down to their ageing squad and have tipped them to re-energise by moving on some of their major names for new, younger players. However it looks as if many will remain with City already looking to change aspects having spent big in January on the likes of Omar Marmoush.
