“Get your shoes on! Manchester City is not a place to retire’ – Pep Guardiola’s no-nonsense message to Ilkay Gundogan as he insists returning hero hasn’t come back to Man City to retir
Little more than a year after departing for Barcelona, Gundogan clinched a surprise return to City on Friday, having signed off a seven-year tenure with the club when he scored 60 goals in 304 appearances and raised 14 trophies.
WHAT GUARDIOLA SAID?
“He has not come here to retire, or recall the wonderful memories, now it is time to get your shoes on, and play your best,” Guardiola remarked during a news conference. “He knows the city, he knows the club, he knows his colleagues, the way we want to play; he does not have to adjust. We thus did it since he would be quickly settled nicely.
Between 2021 and 2023, Gundogan was instrumental in City’s three consecutive Premier League triumphs and adds another more challenge to a strong, but elderly midfield. After winger Savinho joined Troyes, he is just City’s second summer acquisition. Arriving on a free transfer indicates the club still has the £82m ($107m) they cashed in to invest on new players.
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Guardiola stated, though, he did not anticipate City adding any more players before the September 1 transfer market closes. “I do not think so,” he remarked. “I am not sure what is going to happen; maybe anything in terms of injuries – hopefully not – or the market offers something unanticipated that financially fits or strategically… Right now I not believe so…”
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