Barça's new signing, Ilkay Gündogan, had no reason to move from Manchester City, where he has won everything in his seven years as a skyblue player. The German, one of Pep Guardiola's favorites, had the option to renew, but has chosen to leave his "comfort zone" to face a "new challenge" in the Catalan capital.
"If I was going to move, there was only one club in the world that made sense. It was Barcelona or nothing. Since I was a little boy, I dreamed of wearing that shirt one day. I am confident that I have a few more years left at the highest level. , and I just want to help Barcelona get back to where it deserves to be," the German explained in an extensive letter to The Players Tribune in which he praised his Manchester teammates.
"I will always be for City. Nothing can break that bond. It is love at the highest level possible. All I can say is thank you. I lived these dreams thanks to the managers who pushed me (sometimes very hard!) to new levels , the teammates who sacrificed everything they had to play such beautiful football, the fans who traveled thousands of kilometers to support us, the club that gave me the opportunity to be part of this ambitious project, and all the doctors and physios who did a incredible job to keep us healthy," said Gundogan, who is especially fond of Pep Guardiola.
"I have to say that none of this would have been possible without Pep. There are moments when he is so demanding with the way we play and so intense that it can be a bit difficult, mentally. But once everyone is on the same page and we are in harmony on the pitch, his system is so efficient that it almost feels effortless. I've always had a close link with Pep", the midfielder said of the Santpedor man.
The midfielder hopes that Guardiola understands his departure to "his childhood club", where he knows that he will have "a lot of pressure". "I love the pressure. I love getting out of my comfort zone. I wasn't looking for an easy landing. I was looking for a new challenge. That's what this next chapter is about," he explained, in addition to pointing out his reunion with his "old friend" Lewandowski , with whom he coincided at Borussia Dortmund.
After being under the command of Guardiola, Gundogan will be under the baton of Xavi Hernández, another coach whom he has admired "for a long time". "When Xavi and I talked about the project, it seemed so natural. I see so many similarities between us and in the way we see the game," concluded the Teuton, who can't wait "to play in the Barcelona shirt."
