Renowned Arsenal player and pundit, Paul Merson, has expressed his belief that Manchester City and their esteemed manager, Pep Guardiola, may have made a critical error in allowing midfielder Ilkay Gundogan to depart the club on a free transfer to Barcelona during the summer transfer window.

In a candid statement, Merson conveyed his apprehension that Gundogan’s departure could potentially come back to haunt the club during the current title race. Emphasizing the pivotal role played by the 33-year-old midfielder, Merson underscored Gundogan’s significance in securing the Premier League title for Manchester City in previous seasons.

“Let’s be honest – Ilkay Gundogan has been a massive miss so far,” remarked Merson in an interview with Sportskeeda. “He’s scored so many important goals for City, and they would not have won the league without him. I thought it was phenomenal for them to let him leave on a free transfer, and it might come back to bite them.”

Gundogan, who was Guardiola’s maiden signing for Manchester City in 2016, notably served as the captain during the club’s triumphant treble-winning season. His invaluable contribution of 100 goals across 304 appearances for the Citizens further amplified the surprise surrounding his departure from the Etihad Stadium.

Merson’s apprehension shines a light on the potential repercussions of this decision for Manchester City, as they strive to maintain their dominance in the fiercely contested title race, propelling this development into the spotlight of football discourse.