When the news first broke that Ilkay Gundogan could be set for a late exit from Manchester City, it felt like a shockwave tearing through the heart of football. The whispers started small, just quiet rumours tucked into transfer chatter, but soon they grew louder and heavier, spreading from the Etihad dressing room to the streets of Manchester, from Sky Sports to social media timelines filled with fans panicking, questioning, and debating. Could it really be true? Could Gundogan, the captain who lifted trophies, the midfield genius who scored iconic goals, the man Pep Guardiola trusted more than anyone in the tightest of moments, be about to walk away from City at this stage of his career?
For many City fans, Gundogan is more than just a player. He represents the Guardiola era, the cool calm in midfield when storms raged, the man who always seemed to appear when City needed a saviour. Think back to his title-winning brace against Aston Villa on the final day of the 2021/22 season, when City looked dead and buried, only for Gundogan to rise from the bench and drag them to glory. Think back to the Champions League nights when his passing slowed the tempo, when his leadership steadied the team, when his presence reminded everyone that City were not just talented, they were composed. To even imagine life without him feels strange.
But football is brutal, and behind the scenes, stories have started to leak out about dressing room tensions, about Guardiola’s long-term planning, about Gundogan’s own ambitions. Sources close to the Etihad suggest that City are preparing for life without him, and that Gundogan himself has been quietly considering whether the time has come for a new chapter. The reasons are layered, complex, and dramatic. Some point to Guardiola’s constant drive for change, his refusal to let sentiment stand in the way of evolution. Others suggest Gundogan himself is feeling restless, that the hunger which drove him through eight glittering years at City may now push him towards fresh challenges abroad.
The talk inside the dressing room is telling. Some players, it is claimed, have been whispering that Gundogan seems different, that his focus has shifted, that while he still gives everything on the pitch, there is a sense of distance off it. That kind of energy never stays hidden for long in football. When teammates notice, when staff notice, the speculation begins, and once speculation begins, the media storm follows. Suddenly, the idea of Gundogan leaving does not feel like fantasy—it feels like a real possibility.
For Guardiola, this would cut deep. Few players have embodied his philosophy like Gundogan. Signed in 2016 as Pep’s very first Manchester City signing, Gundogan was not just another midfielder, he was the building block. Even when injuries hit early on, Guardiola stood by him, trusted him, shaped the team around him. Over the years Gundogan became the coach on the pitch, the man who could interpret Guardiola’s ideas in real time, adjusting the press, calming teammates, controlling tempo. To lose him now, when City are still fighting across every front, would feel like tearing a piece out of Guardiola’s own heart.
But Pep is ruthless when he needs to be. Fans have seen it before. Yaya Touré, Joe Hart, Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sané—legends and fan favourites all eventually moved on when Guardiola felt the time was right. Could Gundogan be next? Could Pep believe that, despite his brilliance, the team needs fresh legs, new energy, and a different leader in midfield?
Clubs abroad are watching carefully. In Spain, whispers link Gundogan with Barcelona, who have admired him for years. In Italy, Juventus and Inter have been mentioned. Even in Germany, there are voices suggesting a romantic return to the Bundesliga could tempt him. For Gundogan himself, the question is simple: does he stay in Manchester, the city where he has made history, or does he embark on one final great adventure before the curtain falls on his career?
The contract situation only adds fuel to the fire. Gundogan’s current deal is running down, and while City would love to extend, negotiations have not been straightforward. Gundogan knows his worth, he knows the value of experience, he knows clubs across Europe would pay handsomely for his leadership. At 34, this could be his last major contract, his final chance to secure not just financial security but also the kind of role he craves—central, influential, trusted beyond doubt. If City hesitate, if Guardiola hesitates, he might decide the time to walk is now.
For the fans, this possibility is heartbreaking. Social media is filled with emotional tributes, memories, and pleas. Some beg him to stay forever, calling him a legend, the silent engine who never demanded the spotlight but always delivered. Others are pragmatic, acknowledging that football moves fast, that no one is bigger than the club, that if Gundogan leaves, new heroes will step forward. But even those fans admit: losing him would leave a hole that is hard to fill.
The Etihad itself carries the weight of this speculation. Teammates know what Gundogan means. Younger players like Phil Foden, Cole Palmer before his departure, and others have often spoken about how Gundogan guided them, how he led by example. Even senior stars like Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva have leaned on his calm presence in the chaos of title races. To lose him would not just be losing a midfielder—it would be losing a leader, a mentor, and a voice of authority in the dressing room.
And then there is the question of timing. To lose Gundogan now, at the close of the transfer window, would put City under huge pressure. Replacing him would not just be about spending money—it would be about finding someone who understands Guardiola’s demands instantly, who can slot into the most complex tactical system in football without missing a beat. That is not easy. Gundogan’s value is not just in his feet, it is in his brain, his ability to think like Guardiola, to anticipate, to execute. How do you replace that?
Perhaps Guardiola already has a plan. Perhaps he sees Mateo Kovacic, signed from Chelsea, as the successor. Perhaps he believes younger players are ready to step up. But the truth is, Gundogan is unique. Even if others can fill the position, they cannot replicate the aura, the authority, the trust he commands.
And so we find ourselves in this moment of tension, this crossroads where City fans hold their breath and wonder what happens next. Will Gundogan stay one more year to guide the team through another title fight? Or will he pack his bags, leaving behind tears and memories, walking out of the Etihad one last time as the crowd sings his name?
The irony is sharp: Gundogan has been described as the quiet man, the understated star, the player who does not crave headlines. Yet now, as talk of his exit grows louder, he is the headline, the centre of attention, the subject of endless debate. In a way, it is fitting. Sometimes the players who say the least leave the loudest echoes.
If Gundogan leaves, it will not just be an exit, it will be the end of an era. He was Pep’s first signing, his trusted general, the man who scored when it mattered most. To imagine City without him is to imagine a new chapter, but also to remember the countless chapters he helped write. From league titles to Champions League triumphs, from last-minute goals to flawless leadership, Gundogan’s fingerprints are all over Manchester City’s golden age.
Maybe he will stay. Maybe the rumours will fade, the contract will be signed, the partnership with Guardiola will continue. But if he does go, if this is really the end, then Manchester City and their fans must prepare themselves for life after Ilkay Gundogan—a life that will feel emptier, quieter, and a little less magical.
