New Barcelona signing Ilkay Gundogan has revealed that Manchester CityPep Guardiola hoped they would leave the club together.
Gundogan departed City in the transfer window after winning the treble, signing a two-year deal that could go on for another year.
While the German wanted to remain at City, they only made him an offer of a single year.
“One of the hardest calls I had to make was to Pep, telling him that I was going to leave," Gundogan said after signing for Barca.
“All I could do was to say thank you. Not just for this season, or for all the trophies, but for bringing me here in the first place.
“I will never forget when I hurt my knee at the end of the season with Dortmund [in 2016] and I had to get surgery, I was so worried that City would pull out of the deal for me. But Pep called me on the phone and said they will wait no matter how long it takes.
“I think maybe Pep was hoping that we would come here to City together and leave together, but I know that he understands my decision. I am sure it helps that I'm going to his boyhood club."
