Thiago Alcantara cited amid ‘unbelievable’ Man City transfer reveal – pundit
Noel Whelan has compared Ilaky Gundogan’s to Man City to Thiago Alcantara’s to Liverpool.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Premier League striker claimed it would be “ludicrous” for Man City to allow Gundogan to join Barcelona.
The 31-year-old was named captain in the summer but he has entered the final year of his contract at the Etihad.
Spanish outlet Sport reported earlier this week (27 September) that Barcelona are monitoring his situation after missing out on Bernando Silva this summer.
“I don’t think they would want to let Gundogan go, I really don’t,” Whelan told Football Insider correspondent Ewan Kingsbury.
“I think he’s one of their best centre-midfield players, along with Rodri. He’s so important to how they play with his vision on the ball, and his calmness on the ball.
“He’s very much like a Thiago for Liverpool when I look at the way he plays. He’s got everything in his attributes and in his game.
“He’s come up with big goals at big times at big moments that are very important, like winning the league last season.
“I would be very, very reluctant, if I was Pep Guardiola, to let a professional like Gundogan leave. I really would.
“Unless it’s next season and you’re going to bring in a Bellingham as a replacement.
“At the same time, you want to be building a squad that is going to be competing and pushing for every single honour in the game. To let a player of his quality go right now, with the way he’s playing, would be unbelievable.”
In other news, Kieran Maguire has claimed Man City “master plan” has emerged as a £175million Brazilian deal is all but done.