Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has signed for Barcelona after leaving the Etihad on a free transfer.
The former Borussia Dortmund midfielder will join the Camp Nou side on a two-year deal – with the option of a 12-month extension.
Man City wanted to keep Gundogan behind this summer. Still, he rejected a contract extension in favour of a move to Spain, ending his seven-year association with City, with whom he won twelve major trophies, including a historic treble last season.
The 32-year-old scored 60 goals in 304 games for the Cityzens and was an important figure in the dressing room under Pep Guardiola.
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Shortly after the move was confirmed, Gundogan penned a farewell letter entitled ‘Thank you, City’, in which he admits that he had ‘fulfilled every dream he ever had’ with the club.
“Today is bittersweet,” he wrote in a blog post on The Players Tribune. “Goodbyes are never easy, but it’s even harder with this team. When I had to break the news to the boys that I was leaving in our group chat, I was very emotional. I will miss all of them, honestly. But I am happy to say that I’m leaving here as a champion, and I have nothing but love for the club in my heart.
“It’s amazing what we achieved. Five Premier League titles in my seven years here. Two FA Cups. The Champions League. The treble. But those are just trophies. The thing that I will remember the most is the feeling inside the squad, especially this season. I’ve never experienced something like it in football.”
Gundogan also spoke about his move to Barcelona, admitting that he had always wanted to join the Spanish club.
“If I was going to move, there is only one club in the world that made sense.
“It was Barcelona or nothing. Ever since I was a little kid, I dreamed of wearing that shirt someday.”
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