ILKAY GUNDOGAN could be set to LEAVE Barcelona just weeks after signing for them due to a unbelievable clause in his contract.

The star enjoyed a stellar final season at Manchester City last term and scored a pair of volleys in the 2-1 victory over rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup final.

Ilkay Gundogan’s time at Barcelona could be coming to an abrupt end

Gundogan turned down a contract extension at City to sign for Barcelona

Gundogan described his free transfer switch to the Nou Camp as a ‘dream’ shortly after guiding City to a historic Treble.

Man City had offered the midfielder a contract extension but Gundogan opted for a pay cut, to seal his move to Barcelona.

The 32-year-old German international midfielder was officially announced as a Barcelona player on June 26 after his contract expired at City.

But his time at the Nou Camp may be coming to an abrupt end before it really got started with the club in a race against time to register new players by Sunday’s LaLiga deadline.

Forbes are reporting that if he is not registered by Sunday, when Barca kick off the season against Getafe, then a clause in Gundogan’s contract would allow him to leave the club for nothing.

To make matters worse, reports in Spain suggest Gundogan would still be paid for an entire year – a situation cash-strapped Barca would be keen to avoid.

Spanish publication AS Sport previously revealed his deal is worth £8.6m per season.

Barcelona are only believed to have registered 13 players so far for the Getafe clash – and those include both Ousmane Dembele and and Franck Kessie even though they look set to depart for Paris Saint-Germain and Saudi club Al-Ahli respectively.

Forbes have said that Barca president Joan Laporta is “banking on those sales” in order to be able to register new signings.

Additionally, he and the team plan to sell a 16.1% ownership in Barca Studios for £56 million to a German investment company.

Similar difficulties with player registration beset the struggling titans a year ago.

One day before the start of the LaLiga season, they were only able to register four of their five new additions. .