The motivation behind Ilkay Gundogan’s departure from Manchester City

Barcelona midfielder Ilkay Gundogan recently discussed his departure from Manchester City with the German media. Having won the treble with Pep Guardiola’s team last season, Gundogan reflected on the timing of the talks, stating that if they had happened earlier, the situation would have been different. Nevertheless, he believes it was the perfect ending and couldn’t have come at a better time.

Gundogan revealed that it was his childhood dream to play for FC Barcelona, though he didn’t provide specific details about the timing of his move. As for his relationship with his former team, the German international disclosed that he followed almost every game on TV. When asked about playing under his idol Xavi Hernandez, Gundogan mentioned that he had spoken to the coach multiple times before the transfer and had an immediate good feeling about it. He highlighted the similarities in their characters and playing styles, suggesting that Xavi values him for those reasons. Gundogan praised Xavi as an extremely intelligent player who appreciated the value of simple but thoughtful play.

Overall, Gundogan’s departure from Manchester City has been a significant move for him, as he fulfills his childhood dream of playing for Barcelona. He looks forward to contributing to the team under the guidance of his idol, Xavi Hernandez.