Manchester City offered midfielder a last-minute new deal before Barcelona move

Acquiring Ilkay Gundogan on a free transfer was one of the steals of the summer for Barcelona for a number of reasons.

Granted, he was already 32, but even so the German had captained Manchester City to an unprecedented treble and played a starring role in every competition.

Naturally, City wanted to keep him, but they only offered Gundogan a one-year contract which deterred the midfielder, prompting him to seek a new challenge despite near-guaranteed success with the Premier League giants.

As a result, Barcelona capitalised knowing the weight of their call and the fact that they would be able to lure the player in without hurting their already-damaged finances.

However, reports from SPORT now suggest that there was almost a last-minute twist in the tale, as Manchester City did in fact make another last-minute attempt to retain Gundogan.

City made Barcelona improve their offer

Before the Qatar World Cup, Gundogan seemed fairly confident that Manchester City would end up renewing his contract, but he always wanted a slightly longer-term deal.

Perhaps, Manchester City were apprehensive due to his age and Pep Guardiola being the kind of manager he is, always wants to account for the future.

However, after the incredible second half of their season, it became apparent that he could still be a vital piece to the puzzle and after some deliberation, City reportedly offered him a two-year contract at the last minute.

By that point Gundogan had already made up his mind to join Barcelona because the Catalan giants were a club he always admired.

But also because City’s improved offer ensured they gave him a two-year contract with an option to extend for another on better financial terms, and the German valued the effort.

There is no doubt there would have been temptation to continue at City given the success he had just enjoyed with them and his initial will to stay put in England, but Barcelona definitely emerged as overall winners from the situation.