Barcelona's €80m offer pushes Gvardiol closer to Manchester City exit

Barcelona have made a formal €80 million opening offer to Manchester City for Josko Gvardiol, according to Fussball Transfers, intensifying speculation that the Croatian left-back could become the latest high-profile departure from the Etihad this summer. The bid signals that personal terms between Gvardiol and Hansi Flick’s side are not expected to be a sticking point.

City signed Gvardiol from RB Leipzig in 2023 for a reported fee of around €90 million and the 24-year-old has since established himself as one of the best left-backs in European football. He was named Manchester City Player of the Season for 2024-25 and played a central role in the club’s Premier League title win in 2024, before returning from a long-term injury toward the end of last season.

Despite Barcelona’s approach, City are understood to be firm in their stance that Gvardiol remains under contract — with two years still to run — and that there is no pressure to sell. FourFourTwo understands the defender is very much part of the club’s plans going forward, though the scale of upheaval at the Etihad this summer complicates that picture.

Manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed he will leave after a decade in charge, and two senior squad members have already followed. John Stones and Bernardo Silva both departed at the end of the campaign, while Nathan Ake and Omar Marmoush are also reported to be available.

Barcelona are not the only club circling. Real Madrid have identified Gvardiol as a potential solution at left-back alongside Arsenal’s Riccardo Calafiori, while Bayern Munich are also said to be monitoring the position. The level of elite interest underlines how far Gvardiol’s stock has risen since his move to England.

Any transfer is unlikely to be concluded before the World Cup. Gvardiol is focused on the tournament with Croatia, who open their World Cup 2026 campaign against England, and City are not believed to be under financial pressure to accelerate a sale.