FC Barcelona’s Laporta: Gundogan was the first player Xavi wanted

taketonews

Guardiola could no longer change his mind

Ilkay Gündogan immediately gave the fans of the Spanish champions FC Barcelona some hope of winning the Champions League for the first time since 2015. “I think after several years I’ve seen what it takes to win the Champions League,” Gündogan said in Barcelona on Monday.

The 32-year-old midfielder, who won the “premier class” with Manchester City before his free transfer this summer, wants to “pass on certain ideas”. But he also emphasized: “There are things that are beyond control.”

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13 I Paulo Dybala I 2022 I Market value: €35 million

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13 Lionel Messi I 2023 I Market value: €35 million

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13 | Andreas Christensen | 2022 | Market value: €35 million

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13 I Niklas Süle I 2022 I Market value: €35 million

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13 I Hakan Calhanoglu I 2021 I Market value: €35 million

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13 | Adrien Rabiot | 2019 | Market value: €35 million

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13 | Michael Ballac | 2006 | Market value: €35 million

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9 | Antonio Ruediger | 2022 | Market value: €40 million

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9 | Aaron Ramsey | 2019 | Market value: €40 million

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7 I Memphis Depay I 2021 I Market value: €45 million

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7 I Franck Kessié I 2022 I Market value: €45 million

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Gündogan also revealed that Barça striker Robert Lewandowski has increased his anticipation for Barcelona. After the test match between Germany and Poland in June in Warsaw (0-1), he talked to the former Dortmund and Bayern professional about Barcelona. “I was fascinated by the sparkle in his eyes when he spoke about his life in Barcelona and about Barça,” said Gündogan.

However, Gündogan assured that he had already made the decision before this conversation to leave Manchester and switch to the club of national goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen. City coach Pep Guardiola couldn’t do anything to persuade him to stay because: “Everything was clear to me.”

FC Barcelona: Ilkay Gündogan was coach Xavi’s first target

At the official launch, Barcelona President Joan Laporta said: “Gündogan was the first player that (coach) Xavi asked for.” The former midfield strategist has been on the sidelines since November 2021. Club boss Laporta said of Gündogan: “Last season we won the league, Ilkay, but the goal is that we are now playing for the title in the Champions League.”

Gündogan signed a two-year contract with Barcelona until June 30, 2025 with the option for another season, the Catalans announced at the end of June. The fixed transfer fee is 400 million euros. The veteran switched from Borussia Dortmund to Man City in summer 2016 for 27 million euros and from then on played 304 games for the “Citizens”, in which he scored exactly 100 goals.

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12 – Christian Ziege I for Middlesbrough, Liverpool and Tottenham I 15 goals

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As of June 4, 2023

11 – Michael Ballack I for Chelsea I 16 goals

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10 – André Schürrle I for Chelsea and Fulham I 17 goals

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8 – Kai Havertz I for Chelsea I 19 goals

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8 – Lukas Podolski I for Arsenal I 19 goals

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7 – Robert Huth I for Chelsea, Middlesbrough, Stoke City and Leicester City I 21 goals

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6 – Leroy Sané I for Man City I 25 goals

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5 – Pascal Great I for Brighton I 26 goals

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3 – Uwe Rösler I for Man City and Southampton I 29 goals

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3 – Jürgen Klinsmann I for Tottenham I 29 goals

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2 – Mesut Ozil I for Arsenal I 33 goals

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1 – Ilkay Gundogan I for Man City I 44 goals

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