Gundogan could leave Barcelona for free if not registered this week.

Barcelona are at risk of losing Ilkay Gundogan for free if he is not registered by Sunday, just weeks after signing him.

Barcelona is facing a potential loss of Ilkay Gundogan, their newly signed German midfielder, if he is not registered by Sunday. This comes just weeks after his signing, and it could result in him leaving the club on a free transfer.

Gundogan, who spent seven years at Manchester United, decided to make a move after winning the treble under former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola last season. Despite Barcelona's financial difficulties, they acted quickly to secure the Germany international on a free transfer after his contract expired at Manchester City.

However, Forbes reports that there is a clause in Gundogan's contract that allows him to leave for free if he is not registered before their season opener against Getafe. Barcelona is believed to be paying him £8.6m per year on a two-year deal, and even if he is not registered in time, he will still receive payment for this year.

This situation mirrors a similar one from last season, where Barcelona had to rush to register new signings before the start of the La Liga season. History could repeat itself this season if they fail to register Gundogan in time.

Currently, only 13 players have been registered for the new season, including Franck Kessie and Ousmane Dembele. It is expected that the imminent sales of Kessie and Dembele will provide the funds necessary to register Gundogan. President Joan Laporta is hopeful that these deals can be completed this week.

Two other notable new arrivals at Camp Nou this summer are Inigo Martinez and Oriol Romeu. However, there are no indications of similar clauses in their contracts that would lead to the same potential outcome as Gundogan's.

Despite the clause that allows him to leave for free, Gundogan expressed great admiration for the club when he signed. He described it as a "dream move" to join Barcelona, so even if the worst-case scenario occurs, he may not push for an exit.

Gundogan played a crucial role in Manchester City's treble-winning season, contributing with important goals in the Premier League and FA Cup. He was also part of the team that won the Champions League final against Inter Milan.

Barcelona, despite their financial concerns, have high hopes of returning to the top. Last season, under Xavi's management, they comfortably won the La Liga title but struggled in cup competitions, especially the Champions League, where they were eliminated in the group stage.

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