Ilkay Gundogan says he has returned to the ‘best club in the world’ after re-signing for Manchester City.
The 33-year-old left the Etihad to join Barcelona in the summer of 2023, just two weeks after guiding City to a memorable Treble.
Indeed, his first spell with City proved to be a period of success, with the midfielder collecting 14 major trophies in seven seasons.
But after just 12 months in La Liga with Barcelona, he has made a dramatic return to Manchester, subject to international clearance.
“I’m incredibly happy. Happy to see the team-mates, the staff, people that over seven years I had an amazing time with, a very successful time with. Many ups, a few downs, but in general, an incredible experience.
“When you leave this place like I did last year, you spend a year away, you then start to appreciate the place even more. You realise what you had. You realise how amazing that time was.
“You realise how big the club is – the best club in the world.
“In terms of football, getting back onto that level and coming back now a year later is an incredible feeling, and I am very pleased. I’m very happy. I feel privileged to share the dressing room again with these amazing players,” Gundogan said.
Meanwhile, Gundogan has described City manager Pep Guardiola as ‘a genius’.
The Catalan has revolutionised City since taking charge in 2016, winning 18 major trophies and breaking a series of significant, long-standing records in the process.
“Tactically, he’s a genius. He has all sorts of solutions for every probability in the game, for everything that’s happening on the pitch. he can give you a solution you know in just a very short amount of time.
“On top of that, I think in terms of managing also a dressing room, a big dressing room like we have here also is never easy, with so many personalities [and] so many ambitious players that want to start every game.
“To manage that is also very important – to try to keep everyone happy.
“But he’s also demanding if you don’t follow. If you are slightly off the gas in training sessions, you will not play because there are others who can replace you and who have a lot of quality.
“So I think that keeps everyone on their toes and driven and doing their best. And that’s very special about this club in general.”
The final season of Gundogan’s time at City saw him lead the Club to Champions League success in Istanbul – making City only the second English team in history to win the Treble.
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