Ilkay Gundogan explains how he persuaded Pep Guardiola to bring him back to Man City

Ilkay Gundogan was a important subordinate of Barcelona's squad past play and played 51 times, scoring five, but opted to bask 1 past section with City arsenic helium returned connected a escaped transfer, signing a one-year deal

Manchester City prima Ilkay Gundogan has revealed however a elemental telephone telephone with Pep Guardiola convinced his aged brag to bring him backmost to the Etihad this summertime earlier completing a instrumentality from Barcelona.

The midfielder - a important subordinate of the club's treble-winning broadside of 2022-23 - near City for Barcelona soon aft being progressive successful the unthinkable triumph but spent conscionable 1 play successful La Liga.

Gundogan was a important subordinate of Xavi's squad past play and played 51 times, scoring five, but opted to bask 1 past section with City aft making past with Guardiola's broadside crossed 7 seasons. He returned connected a escaped transfer, signing a one-year deal.

The 33-year-old has wasted small clip slotting consecutive backmost into beingness astatine City, featuring 4 times truthful acold - including a starting spot successful their 2-1 triumph implicit Brentford past clip out.

"When I was definite it would beryllium astonishing to travel back, I spoke with Pep,’ helium told the Daily Mail ahead of his side's immense clash against Arsenal this weekend. "I called him and asked him if helium could ideate it. Not retired of nothing. I had thought astir it. it was thing I personally wanted to bash and I didn’t person overmuch to lose, you know?

"I was a spot tense beforehand but it was a bully call. Obviously my narration with Pep was ever good. Even though I was successful Barcelona past twelvemonth we had a fewer telephone calls betwixt each other. We really besides met determination once.

"There is nary crushed to fell that we person a bully transportation but astatine the extremity you ne'er cognize however radical volition respond oregon what they deliberation astir definite situations.

"So erstwhile I mentioned it and I got a large response, I was relieved. It was thing that possibly I didn’t rather expect successful that moment. He said had it been up to him it would person been done tomorrow."

Speaking connected his determination to re-sign Gundogan earlier this summer, Guardiola said it was a no-brainer to bring a subordinate of his stature and acquisition backmost to the club.

“It was a implicit astonishment and unexpected. It happened," the Spaniard said. "I got a connection from [sporting director] Txiki [Begiristain] saying Ilkay wants to speech to you. He called maine and asked astir the concern and if determination was a accidental to travel backmost if I would similar it and we said yes immediately.

“I person a feeling that helium doesn’t travel present to discontinue oregon retrieve bully memories that we have. We person clip for the bully memories successful the aboriginal but present it’s clip for shoes connected and play your best.”

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