‘I heard’: Rio Ferdinand suggests ‘very calm’ player won’t be joining Arsenal

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Rio Ferdinand has spoken highly about Arsenal transfer target Ilkay Gundogan after he shone brightly once again for Manchester City.

The Manchester United legend described the 32-year-old as a ‘very calm’ player after his brace in the FA Cup final and added that he has ‘heard’ he will be going to Barcelona when his Manchester City contract expires in June, as he told FIVE.

Mikel Arteta has already purchased two players from the Etihad and there are strong rumours that he is keen to add a third in Ilkay Gundogan.

The future of the German midfielder is still up in the air, with Xavi’s Barcelona also keen to secure his talents on a free transfer.

If Gundogan does decide to leave the Premier League champions, then he might leave in the very best way possible and that’s as a treble-winner.

If Pep Guardiola’s side can get over that line, then their captain has played a huge part in it all, with Ferdinand discussing his future and how he’s not going to be Arsenal-bound.

“The person that needs talking about is the captain, Gundogan,” said Ferdinand. “He has been immense – when it has mattered, he has come up trumps, either with goals, performances, the control of games, the pace and tempo goes through him and Rodri a lot of the time.

“He defines everything that’s good about this team, I think. He is very calm under pressure. Never seems like a hair out of place. He’s just there. It shows you why he was captain – there is a calm authority about him. He plays off both feet. Comfortable – he impacts the game anywhere he plays on the pitch. I love him.

On Gundogan’s future: “Barca. I heard it’s Barca. That’s still big wages. Maybe Messi as well. Busquets has gone off the wage bill, probably on £200k-a-week. Pique. Alba.”

GUNDOGAN’S LEGACY IS GROWING

Just like his Manchester City teammates, they have won it all on the domestic stage, and in some cases, five times over.

But that one trophy that alludes them is the European Cup. It’s where legends become icons and where some players become the greatest ever.

For someone like Gundogan, if he produces the same magic he has been showcasing during these past few months and helps Man City win the Champions League, then he will probably go down as one of his club’s greatest-ever players.