Manchester City have paid tribute to their former captain Ilkay Gundogan by dedicating a training pitch to the treble-winning midfielder. Gundogan, who celebrated his 33rd birthday on Tuesday, departed the club during the summer transfer window to join Barcelona, concluding a successful seven-year stint with the Etihad club. Gundogan scored City’s title-winning goal against Aston Villa, a match that ended 3-2 on the final day of the 2022 Premier League campaign. He has been immortalized in a mosaic displayed alongside the newly dedicated training pitch at the City Football Academy.
Ilkay Gundogan lifting Manchester City’s 2022/23 EPL title Mail Sports reported that Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Chairman of Manchester City, led the tribute during the unveiling ceremony. He said, “On behalf of everyone associated with Manchester City, it is really my privilege and honour to unveil this mosaic that is a tribute to every accomplishment you’ve made over the years. “You have been an important leader, an important pillar of the history of this club that will never be forgotten,” Mubarak added. He noted that Gundogan’s contributions, both on and off the field, have left quite an impression on the club. “But beyond these great accomplishments as a football player, your accomplishments as a leader, both in the club and in the community, will never be forgotten.” Manchester City are in the habit of celebrating their legends in remarkable ways. Similar tributes have also been given to some of the club’s best players in times past. Some of them include Vincent Kompany, Sergio Aguero, and David Silva, who have been honoured with statues at the Etihad Stadium.
32-year-old Gundogan is in the final few months of his contract at Manchester City, meaning he will be a free agent at the end of the season. Sport reported that while the club is willing to offer him a short-term extension, City has increasingly resigned to losing him for nothing at the end of the season. There’s also been no breakthrough in any negotiations behind the scenes. 
Barcelona is likely to be his next destination, a club he has always had affection for due to its culture and style of play. Xavi and Co are also keen on signing the German and strengthening their midfield, with Sergio Busquets likely to leave the club at the end of the season. Another reason Gundogan is reportedly likely to depart City is his wife Sara Arfaoui, who has grown tired of life in England. 
“But at the moment it feels like there’s a special recipe missing in the team – performances, the desire and hunger is maybe not as it was in recent years. “It’s tough, against even a side that’s struggling a little bit in the Premier League right now, but we knew that Southampton was always tough to play, always very aggressive and always able to score a goal. “Unfortunately we made it too easy for them and in the end we need to admit that with a performance like that, we deserved to lose. Hopefully it was the right wake-up call for us. If it is it’s something good we can take out of the game. “We have to do better, we need to start the hard work again and be humble, because things will not come to us automatically – we need to deserve them.”