Ilkay Gundogan: It just felt 'right' to sign for Barcelona

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Ilkay Gundogan has revealed that Xavi played a significant role in his decision to leave Manchester City and join Barcelona. </p>

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After securing the Champions League trophy and completing a remarkable treble with City, the 32-year-old bid farewell to a successful career at the Etihad Stadium. </p>

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While City had hoped to persuade Gundogan to sign a new contract, offering a one-year deal with the option for an additional 12 months, he ultimately chose to embrace the challenge of joining Barcelona. </p>

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The Catalan club reclaimed the La Liga title from Real Madrid in the previous season. </p>

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Gundogan was officially presented as a Barcelona player on Monday afternoon and shared how a conversation with Xavi influenced his choice to make the move at this stage of his career. </p>

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"The first moment we talked to each other, I just felt it was right to come here, join the club and have the opportunity to prove myself at a different club and a different country," Gundogan said. </p>

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"I was close to coming here two times earlier but it was not meant to be. Now it is the time. </p>

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"Xavi made his ideas of how the team wants to play very clear. It's very similar to how we played in Man City. It's a similar school, Guardiola, Xavi... In the way he approached the talks, the honesty from him I saw sort of my own character reflected in him. </p>

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"It was probably not much of what he said but especially how he said it, which sometimes is more important." </p>

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<p>The article <a href="https://www.planetsport.com/soccer/news/ilkay-gundogan-just-felt-right-sign-barcelona">Ilkay Gundogan: It just felt 'right' to sign for Barcelona </a> appeared first on Planetsport.com.</p>