Barcelona director delivers frosty response to Ilkay Gundogan question over Manchester City return decision | OneFootball

One Barcelona director has delivered a frosty response to a question surrounding Ilkay Gundogan’s move back to Manchester City during the recent summer transfer window.

The Premier League champions made a stunning move late in the summer transfer window to re-sign 33-year-old, Ilkay Gundogan on a free transfer, just one year after he left for Barcelona off the back of a UEFA Champions League success.

The German midfielder, who captained Manchester City to a historic treble in 2023 – winning the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, and the FA Cup – returned to boost Pep Guardiola’s midfield quality.

Gundogan was Pep Guardiola’s first signing at Manchester City upon being appointed as head coach in the summer of 2016, and became one of his most trusted lieutenants until his departure last summer.

La Liga giants Barcelona ultimately allowed the midfielder to leave on a free transfer, amid concerns over boardroom difficulties and player registration with the Spanish top-flight, paving the way for a return to the Premier League.

The decision was reportedly driven by the club’s well-known financial issues, which forced them to part ways with the midfielder after just one season at the Camp Nou. In that time, Gundogan scored five goals and registered 14 assists for the Spanish outfit.

Barcelona’s sporting director and former player, Deco recently held a detailed conversation with Spanish newspaper AS, and was asked to give insight into Ilkay Gundogan’s transfer back to the Etihad Stadium.

The 47-year-old seemed to be annoyed by the question, as translated and relayed by Sport Witness, and delivered a frosty response by saying, “The coach already explained Gündogan’s departure. Everything has already been said. We wish him good luck at City.”

Barcelona’s new manager, Hansi Flick previously explained that the now-former Germany international changed his stance on remaining at the La Liga outfit.

“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,” Flick said, as per Mundo Deportivo.

“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.”

Since returning to Manchester City, Ilkay Gundogan has featured in four matches, including three substitute appearances and one start against Brentford in the club’s most-recent Premier League outing.

The undisputed club legend will be hoping to have an impact this weekend as the team host Arsenal in the Premier League, and it would come as no surprise to many to see the 33-year-old turn up in yet another big game.