Given their financial difficulties, FC Barcelona managed to sign some of the best players they could have in the summer transfer window.
Ilkay Gundogan, a former star for Manchester City who has excelled for FC Barcelona, is the most notable addition among them.
The outcome of his rather uneventful visit, though, might have been quite different in the end. The player provided insight into his departure from City and how specific negotiations may have gone differently, as reported by Spanish site Mundo Deportivo and confirmed by the player himself in an interview with German publication BILD:
“I’m sincere. And many people are unaware of the fact that it took longer than one or two years in the end. The contract’s duration was not a problem. City had to wait a while for the negotiations to pick up steam. It would have been different if this had occurred a little sooner.
Nevertheless, the new Barcelona player eventually said that he was content with how things turned out given that he had always wanted to play for FC Barcelona. He declared:
Consequently, it turned out to be the ideal timing and couldn’t have come at a better time. My earliest ambition was to join FC Barcelona.
He went on to say that, in addition to being motivated by sentimental beliefs, his decision to come to Barcelona was also based on a realistic assessment of the club’s future prospects. The player had the following things to say about Barcelona, especially the young players and seasoned players:
“I wouldn’t have moved to Barcelona if I hadn’t recognized the possibilities. Along with having exceptional potential, the team also has Robert Lewandowski, Frenkie de Jong, Marc-André ter Stegen, and myself. Particularly considering that one of the players, Lamine Yamal, recently turned 16, the potential here is astounding.
He proceeded to stress the value of experience in a player and focused especially on the impact of Xavi Hernandez on his recruitment by FC Barcelona:
Before the transfer, we had multiple phone conversations. I felt wonderful from the beginning. I believe our personalities are extremely similar. He had some aspects of his game that are also present in mine even as a player. That might be one of the things he values about me.
Following the completion of the current international break, FC Barcelona will play Real Betis on September 12.
Ilkay Gundogan is anticipated to be among the starting lineup for Xavi Hernandez’s Barcelona not just for the match against the Andalusian team but for the rest of the 2023–2024 season.
