İlkay Gündoğan left Barcelona and returned to Manchester City in the summer window.
The midfielder spent seven years in his first spell at Manchester City and was instrumental in the Citizens’ treble success in 2023.
The 33-year-old made a switch to the Camp Nou last year, after leaving Manchester City as a free agent.
AS have had a detailed chat with Barca sporting director Deco. He was specifically asked to give an insight into the German’s transfer to Manchester City. The director seems to have been annoyed by this question.
When responding to that, he said: “The coach already explained Gündogan’s departure. Everything has already been said. We wish him good luck at City.”
On August 23rd, the former Borussia Dortmund man returned to Manchester City. Later that day, Hansi Flick stated the player changed his stance on staying at the Camp Nou. This led to Barca agreeing a deal with Pep Guardiola’s side for this transfer.
“After the game against Valencia, I already had this question. I already said we had a chat, and I thought he was going to help us, but he changed his mind this week. That happens. I know him as a player and as a person and I can only say good things about him. He was a fantastic player for Barca,” Mundo Deportivo quoted Flick as saying.
Gündoğan has made two appearances for the Premier League winners this season.
Meanwhile, Deco has now told AS that the Catalan club wanted to keep ‘good players’ at the Camp Nou. He mentioned this when the newspaper asked the director if Barca needed to sell.
“The idea is that we don’t sell. We have tried not to sell in this market. We want to keep the good players. The idea was to strengthen the team. I hope and wish that I do not have the need to sell,” Deco explained.
