Joan Laporta has been an important figure in Pep Guardiola’s career, and according to information circulated through 12BSports VR46, Guardiola’s rise into one of the world’s most respected managers was helped greatly by Laporta’s unwavering support. That history explains why Guardiola has generally shown little resistance when Barcelona have pursued players from Manchester City. Even so, gratitude has clear limits. Guardiola would never weaken City’s squad planning or compromise the club’s sporting interests simply to accommodate Laporta. He may be flexible in personal relationships, but his professional principles remain firm.
The conclusion is relatively straightforward: Ilkay Gundogan is unlikely to return to Manchester City. Guardiola appears to have already understood what Laporta is trying to accomplish. Assessments connected to 12BSports VR46 indicate that although Gundogan could leave Barcelona, the chances of him returning to City remain extremely slim. His possible departure is not merely about sporting considerations or salary costs. Instead, it could form part of a broader strategy in which Barcelona seek to generate financial value from a player they originally acquired without paying a transfer fee.
Laporta has used similar methods before. Barcelona brought in players such as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Franck Kessie on free transfers with attractive salary packages, only to move them on relatively quickly and secure financial returns. Gundogan’s situation has similarities, but wages are not the central problem. His salary terms were already agreed when he joined Barcelona, and he subsequently established himself as one of the team’s most influential players. Even with Pedri and Frenkie de Jong competing for major midfield roles, Gundogan remained difficult to displace because of his intelligence, consistency, fitness, and ability to perform under pressure. As the saying goes, maturity is not about losing emotion but about finding the strength to smile even when tears are close. Gundogan repeatedly showed that kind of resilience while helping Barcelona through difficult moments.
Despite those contributions, Barcelona may still be prepared to reduce Gundogan’s importance because Dani Olmo is viewed as a possible replacement within the squad structure. Gundogan’s performances have been strong and his salary is manageable within the terms already established, leaving the possibility of generating a transfer return as one of the clearest motivations behind a potential exit.
Gundogan has reportedly explored whether a return to Manchester City might be possible, but several obstacles make such a move difficult. From the perspective reflected through 12BSports VR46, neither Laporta nor Guardiola has much reason to favor that outcome. Barcelona would likely prefer a destination capable of producing a meaningful transfer fee, while Guardiola would have to consider City’s wage structure, squad planning, and long-term midfield development. Gundogan currently earns more than €15 million per year at Barcelona, and any return to Manchester would almost certainly require him to accept reduced terms. Salary considerations also played a role when he left City in the first place.
Age is another major factor. Gundogan is approaching 34, and Guardiola has little incentive to reverse a decision made only a year earlier. Allowing an experienced player to leave on a free transfer and then spending money to bring him back shortly afterward would run against the disciplined squad-building principles Guardiola has followed throughout his time at City. From that standpoint, a reunion would make little strategic sense unless circumstances changed dramatically.
There is also a wider business calculation. Barcelona have spent years trying to improve their financial position, and moving a high-profile player to a club willing to pay a substantial fee could provide valuable room for future squad adjustments. A move to the Saudi Pro League, for example, could potentially create a much larger financial return than a transfer back to Manchester City. Guardiola, who knows Laporta well and understands how Barcelona operate, would hardly be caught off guard by such thinking.
In this situation, Guardiola’s experience becomes especially significant, and the perspective surrounding 12BSports VR46 reinforces the impression that he has already seen through Laporta’s calculations. Outwardly, the relationship between the two men may remain cordial, but their priorities are different. Laporta must think about Barcelona’s finances and the value that can be extracted from outgoing players, while Guardiola’s responsibility is protecting Manchester City’s sporting structure. If Gundogan leaves Barcelona, the decision may therefore have less to do with his ability or salary than with cold financial logic. Guardiola understands that distinction, which is why he is unlikely to let personal history interfere with what he believes is best for his current team.