As soon as it was revealed that Ilkay Gundogan was leaving Barcelona, a Manchester City return seemed inevitable, and it’s easy to see why.
The Germany international was one of the Catalan‘s highest-paid players, and after a mixed debut season made way for the club to register Dani Olmo under the salary cap.
Returning to City a year after leaving for free, Gundogan reportedly turned down more money from Saudi Arabia and America, but one key reason helped.
BILD claim that Gundogan, who is Pep Guardiola’s neighbour in Manchester, made a ‘secret agreement’ with the Spaniard that he would return if he could become his assistant coach upon retirement.
Gundogan has long-held ambitions to become coach, and already passed the first exams of his licence.
The BILD report seems particularly strong, given that the claims came in a story where they spoke to Gundogan on other matters.
Discussing his return to Manchester, he said: “I actually still have my old apartment in Manchester and have returned there. I felt very comfortable there for years – so there is no reason to change anything. And yes, then I’ll probably be Pep’s neighbor again.
“The fact that Pep was so positive right away and wanted me back was enough. I had other offers too, but I was no longer interested in any of them.
“If I leave Barca, then I’ll go back to ManCity – that was quickly clear to me.”
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