Ilkay Gundogan opens up on Pep Guardiola advice for Barcelona move after leaving Man City

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Pep Guardiola gave Ilkay Gundogan advice about joining Barcelona and living in Spain, the midfielder has revealed. Gundogan called time on his glittering Manchester City career this summer after captaining the Blues to the Treble, opting to join Barcelona on a two-year deal, rather than accept City's new contract offer of one year, plus the option of a second.

The German was officially unveiled at Barcelona on Monday, and revealed in his opening interview that Guardiola was on hand to give him plenty of advice about the Catalan club, once Gundogan had made his mind up about leaving City.

Gundogan named Guardiola among his idols as a player growing up watching Barcelona, adding that he had options to join Barcelona at previous points in his career. ALSO READ: Man City already have replacements for Kyle Walker and Riyad Mahrez Asked about Guardiola's reaction to his decision, Gundogan explained how his former manager has been on hand to offer advice about Barcelona - as a club and as a city. "For me, it was important that he was the first to know," Gundogan said. "I expressed my gratitude to him, in a way I consider that he was happy and that when I needed anything about the club and about the city I would ask him for advice. “It’s not so much that Pep lacked [anything]," continued Gundogan, speaking about why he chose to leave City. "I’ve known him well, for seven years, but I like challenges and constantly surpassing myself.

All that the coach and the club have done to convince me, is that my desire to sign for the club has grown a lot.” And Gundogan also explained how conversations with new manager Xavi convinced him that Barcelona was the right club for him. “Thanks to the president and all the staff for making