Ilkay Gundogan, who joined Barcelona early in the summer transfer window on a free transfer, was a player worth his weight in gold after a standout season with Manchester City.

The Catalan powerhouses fought tooth and nail for his signing, and Manchester City routinely persuaded him to extend.

Gundogan ultimately decided on Barcelona, and in an interview with BILD, he discusses the details of the controversy as well as other matters pertaining to sports.

Situation regarding Man City’s contract

If City had extended his contract by more than a year, he would have, he said in response to the question:

“I’m sincere. Furthermore, a lot of people are unaware that it wasn’t ultimately about a year or two. The passage of time wasn’t an issue. City had to wait a while for the conversations to truly pick up.

“The scenario might have been different if it had occurred a little earlier. Therefore, it was the ideal conclusion and couldn’t have happened at a better time.

The story may have been very different if Gundogan had been approached sooner, but he makes it plain that playing for the Blaugrana was his ambition, thus it was difficult to decline Barcelona’s offer when they came knocking.

I also always wanted to play for FC Barcelona, he continued.

When asked about when City’s offer came in, the German midfielder responded as follows:

It was very late in the season, but I don’t want to get into the specifics. And players want to focus solely on sport during a quarterfinal or semifinal of the Champions League. I was unsure of what would occur next.

Pep was always appreciative, but the club didn’t take any official action for a while. There wasn’t much of a motive for me to want to change before May. The triple was undoubtedly the pinnacle of success. But it was impossible for that to be preplanned.

saying goodbye to Guardiola

Pep Guardiola, the former manager of Barcelona, oversaw Gundogan for a remarkable stretch of time, and he recognized that it was difficult for him to say goodbye.

I regret not saying good-bye in person since I didn’t decide until after the Champions League final. The worst phone call I’ve ever received, he claimed, was certainly that one.

“Emotions ran high during the chat, but Pep was also pleased for me. He was delighted as a fan when I decided to switch to the team he supports. He also advised me to get in touch with him whenever I needed anything.

It was fantastic to observe Pep in action as a coach. Over the next years, this will be a huge benefit to me, he said.

Barcelona expectations

Gundogan wants to win in Barcelona. (Image via Getty Images by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP)

After joining Barcelona, Gundogan acknowledged that the club was still developing, but the Catalans were moving in the right path thanks to their effective combination of youth and experience.

When the former captain of Manchester City was asked if he could play at the same level with Barcelona in the next years, he responded realistically:

Since I started watching football, there have only been maybe two or three clubs that performed as City did last year. Barcelona in 2011 is one example.

On the other hand, I wouldn’t have moved to Barcelona if I hadn’t recognized the potential. Along with our team’s amazing skill, we also have outstanding players like Marc-André ter Stegen, Frenkie de Jong, Robert Lewandowski, and myself.

Regarding the appropriate mix of youth and experience, Gundogan singled out Barcelona’s youthful talent, including Lamine Yamal, saying:

Just the fact that we have Lamine Yamal, a player who has just turned 16, demonstrates the amazing talent here. But some football skills can only be acquired through practice. Maintaining composure and patience are labor-intensive. You must go through that to learn it.

“Xavi Hernández, in my opinion, is tackling the proper issues. We experienced players can make a good blend. In the upcoming years, I think we can catch up to City on a comparable level.

When asked about the Barcelona youth players who came this summer, including Yamal and German prodigy Noah Darvich, Gundogan spoke upbeatly and stated:

“The La Masia boys from the academy frequently join us for training. The young guys have a lot to gain from it. The top players from our own development system and international stars have always been the focus of FC Barcelona.

“I am quite interested to witness Noah Darvich’s public persona. The prospect of getting to know him excites me.

Finally, the 32-year-old expressed his opinions about Xavi, who was crucial in his signing, saying:

Before the transfer, we had multiple phone conversations. I immediately felt positive. I believe that our personalities are pretty similar.

“Even as a player, he had elements in his style that I also have. He might regard me for that reason, among others. Xavi was a very bright player who appreciated straightforward but deliberate play.