Trimming the tallest flowers can help the ones below to grow. They might get even taller. Sometimes moving on can be healthy and Manchester City have made an art of it.
Under Pep Guardiola, a summer hasn't gone by without at least one club icon being moved on. Joe Hart, Pablo Zabaleta, Yaya Toure, Vincent Kompany, David Silva, Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho have all left since 2016.
The trend continued this summer but unlike those who left before him, Ilkay Gundogan was nowhere near past his peak and City were desperate to keep him.
In fact, Gundogan might still be playing the best football of his career and had just played a crucial role in a treble-winning side.
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