Barcelona: Ilkay Gundogan Describes Closing Dialog With Manchester City Boss Pep Guardiola as ‘Hardest Name of My Life’

(Photo : LLUIS GENE/AFP by way of Getty Images) Barcelona’s German midfielder (#22) Ilkay Gundogan gestures in the course of the Spanish Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Cadiz CF on the Lluis Companys Olimpic Stadium in Barcelona on August 20, 2023.

Former Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan described his cellphone name with supervisor Pep Guardiola when he knowledgeable him that he would depart for Spanish giants FC Barcelona.

The 32-year-old advised German outlet Bild that he couldn’t say goodbye to Guardiola in particular person as a result of he solely determined to maneuver after their UEFA Champions League triumph towards Inter Milan final June.

Gundogan additionally had a sport for the German nationwide group developing at the moment, therefore the battle in schedule.

“The conversation was emotional, but Pep was also happy for me. I switched to the club that was close to his heart and his childhood, so to speak – and as a fan, he was very happy about that. He also told me: If I need anything, I should contact him at any time,” Gundogan stated, describing the change, which he referred to as essentially the most tough cellphone name of his life.

Read extra: Sergio Ramos Makes Emotional Return to Boyhood Club Sevilla, Taking up a Much Lesser Salary

Barcelona near Guardiola’s coronary heart

Guardiola is notably a legend at FC Barcelona, spending most of his taking part in profession with the La Liga aspect and managing the membership to unprecedented success from 2008 to 2012.

Meanwhile, Gundogan was the primary signing of Guardiola when he arrived on the Premier League membership in 2016, and the German has persistently contributed to the membership’s huge success over the previous few years.

In the top, Gundogan thinks that his time in Manchester ended on the excellent time, and he additionally famous that it was his childhood dream to play for Barcelona.