I want to be a future Man City coach alongside Pep Guardiola - but I'm not done playing yet
manchestereveningnews.co.ukWhen he left Manchester City last year, something told Ilkay Gundogan not to part with his city centre apartment just yet. A neighbour of Pep Guardiola, Gundogan had left City in frustrating circumstances - the club took too long to offer the contract he wanted and the chance to join Barcelona (and a two year deal) was the better option.
A perfect place to end his career at the club he's always supported. Things didn't work out as planned, however. Last week, Gundogan became the latest victim of Barcelona's financial troubles and is now back for the second chapter of his City story. ALSO READ: 'Non-negotiable' - Pep Guardiola performs major Erling Haaland u-turn after Man City training chat ALSO READ: Behind the scenes with Ilkay Gundogan as candid Pep Guardiola calls and Man City hold revealed "It was just such an intense year," explained Gundogan when asked about his decision to keep his Manchester apartment over the last 12 months. "I struggled with finding an apartment over there, I didn’t really have much time and much energy to spend on trying to rent or sell it. "So I just thought, okay, keep it for now, Manchester is also growing, it is not a bad place to be.
So I just thought keep it and don’t know what the future will bring. It looks like it was meant to be." Gundogan should, in theory, slot straight back in to Guardiola's system.
A few videos to refresh his memory and he stepped back onto the Etihad pitch on Saturday like he had never been away. But things have changed.
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