EPL: Massive miss – Merson reveals Man City, Guardiola made mistake by allowing midfielder leave club

Arsenal legend Paul Merson has suggested that Manchester City and their manager, Pep Guardiola, made a mistake by allowing midfielder Ilkay Gundogan to leave the club on a free transfer to Barcelona in the summer.

Merson believes Gundogan’s departure may ‘come back to bite them’ in the title race this season.

According to him, the 33-year-old was massive for Man City because he won them the Premier League title in the past.

“Let’s be honest – Ilkay Gundogan has been a massive miss so far,” Merson told 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 was Guardiola’s first signing for Man City back in 2016.

The German midfielder captained Man City to win the treble last season.

He made 100 goal contributions across 304 appearances for City, and many were surprised that the Citizens allowed him to leave Etihad.