Ilkay Gundogan, a former midfielder for Manchester City, has explained why he left the Premier League champions this summer to join Barcelona
The German international recently discussed his choice and the events that led to his move after a phenomenal seven-year stay with Man City.
Following the Champions League final, Pep Guardiola, the manager of Man City, and Gundogan had heartfelt conversations, according to Gundogan.
He described this interaction as “the hardest phone call” he had ever made. Gundogan admitted that, despite how difficult the choice was, Guardiola was encouraging and sympathetic to his desire for a fresh challenge. Gundogan also made a suggestion that his decision to quit the club was greatly influenced by the timing of the contract discussions.
He claims the team put off starting the contract extension talks for too long. Gundogan stated (per Bild): “City waited a fair amount of time before the talks truly heated up. “Things might have been different if this had occurred a bit earlier. “So, the conclusion was wonderful in every way. The timing of it couldn’t have been better. My childhood goal was to play for Barcelona.
Gundogan praised the appreciation from Guardiola and the club throughout his tenure at Man City, despite the uncertainty surrounding his future. He highlighted that winning the triple last season was the pinnacle of his professional life. An era at Man City came to an end with Gundogan’s transfer to Barcelona, but his impact on the team’s achievements over the years will live on in the hearts of supporters and teammates.
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