On Friday, Ilkay Gundogan made a surprising return to Manchester City, just over a year after leaving for Barcelona. During his seven-year stint with City, Gundogan scored 60 goals in 304 appearances and won 14 trophies.
Guardiola’s Remarks
At a press conference, Guardiola stated, “He’s not here to retire or reminisce about the good times. Now it’s time to lace up your boots and give your best.”
Guardiola emphasized that Gundogan doesn’t need to adapt since he already knows the club, the city, and the playing style.
“That’s why we brought him back—he’s already well-established,” Guardiola added.
Gundogan’s return intensifies the competition within an already strong, though aging, midfield that was key to City’s three consecutive Premier League titles from 2021 to 2023.
Gundogan is City’s second summer signing after winger Savinho joined from Troyes, and since Gundogan was a free agent, City can still utilize the £82 million ($107 million) gained from Julian Alvarez’s sale to Atletico Madrid to make further acquisitions.
Did You Know?
However, Guardiola mentioned that he doesn’t expect City to bring in any more players before the transfer window closes on September 1. “I don’t think so,” he said.
“I’m not sure what will happen—either an injury, which hopefully won’t happen, or something unexpected in the market that makes sense strategically or financially. But at the moment, I don’t think so.”
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