Ilkay Gundogan has open up on his "bittersweet" and "emotional" departure from Manchester City after officially joining Barcelona.
After leading the Citizens to a historic treble in the 2022-23 campaign, the 32-year-old has decided to call time on his trophy-laden seven-year spell at the Etihad Stadium and will make the move to Barcelona on a free transfer when his Citizens contract expires at the end of this month.
Gundogan scored 60 goals and registered 40 assists in 304 appearances for Man City across all competitions and won a total of 14 trophies including five Premier League titles and the Champions League.
The German midfielder, who has secured legendary status at the Etihad, has reflected on his memorable time playing for Pep Guardiola's side and how he has developed as a player and person ahead of embarking on a fresh challenge with Barcelona.
"When I first arrived here, I was a young man with no kids and a lot of dreams. It's hard for me to even believe, but I am leaving seven years later as a father who has fulfilled every single dream that he ever had," Gundogan said in a statement via The Players' Tribune.
"Today is bittersweet. Goodbyes are never easy, but it's even harder with this team. When I had to break the news to the boys that I was leaving in our group chat, I was very emotional. I will miss all of them, honestly. But I am happy to say that I'm leaving here as a champion, and I have nothing but love for the club in my heart. How many footballers can say goodbye as the captain of a treble team?
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"It's amazing what we achieved. Five Premier League titles in my seven years here. Two FA Cups. The Champions League. The treble. But those are just trophies. The thing that I will remember the most is the feeling inside the squad, especially this season. I've never experienced something like it in football."
Gundogan has also spoken about his Champions League "obsession", revealing how missing out on glory back in 2013 with former club Borussia Dortmund "seriously haunted" him before eventually lifting the prestigious trophy 10 years later as City captain in his final game for the club.
"This (Man City group) has been the closest team I've ever been a part of, and I think that's part of why we were able to finally lift the Champions League trophy," Gundogan added. "For me, the Champions League has been a bit of an obsession for the last 10 years. Well, not a bit, actually. It's been an obsession, truly.
"When my Dortmund team lost the final to Bayern [Munich] in 2013, I was crushed. There is no feeling like losing a final. It seriously haunted me for 10 years. Every decision I made in my career since then has been about lifting that trophy. That's why I came to City. So when we lost the final against Chelsea two years ago, it was terrible.
"Then last season, I was left on the bench for the semi-final against [Real] Madrid at the Etihad, and that was maybe even harder for me. After Pep announced the team, I went to my room to be alone and yeah... I was simply devastated. I just wanted it so badly, you know?
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"This season, something clicked. I just knew we were going to do it. I don't even mean just the Champions League. The Premier League, the FA Cup - everything. Week after week, I just felt everything lining up perfectly. Even when we were 10 points behind Arsenal, I knew we would win the league. We already had such a strong foundation for so many years with guys like Kevin [De Bruyne], Kyle [Walker], John [Stones], Phil [Foden], Bernardo [Silva] and Ederson, but then you add in characters like Erling [Haaland] and Jack [Grealish], and it gave us another edge."
Gundogan added: "This whole season felt like a movie. But I don't think I could have dreamed of a better ending than having the final in Istanbul. It was a bit of a homecoming for me, and for my family. I just remember the plane coming in for the landing over the city, and looking out the window realising that I was going to be the captain for City in a Champions League final in my grandfather's homeland (Turkey).
"I can't say much about the match. It's still a blur. We didn't play our best, I have to admit. I think we were all a bit hesitant. But we found a way to win, like all champions do. The thing that I remember most is when the referee blew his whistle. I just collapsed by our goal. It was too much. I put my head in the grass. I was trying to process everything.
"When I got up, the first thing I saw was all the Inter players sitting around me in tears. I knew that exact feeling so well, and so I went up to them and told them that they should be proud of their season, and to keep fighting. It helped to put everything in perspective for me. The margins are so thin during a final. It could have easily gone the other way. The struggle is always worth something. The years of failure is what made the victory so overwhelming, and so sweet.
"I'm sure most people will probably remember the goals and the assists and the finals from this incredible era. But I will cherish something a bit different. Yes, the football was sensational at times. But the people were even better. I will remember you all for the rest of my life. Thank you for everything."
Man City are reportedly on the verge of announcing midfielder Mateo Kovacic as their first signing of the summer after agreeing an initial £25m fee with Chelsea, while they have reportedly submitted a £90m bid for West Ham United star Declan Rice, although they face stern competition from Arsenal.
