Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola will likely be angry after seeing Barcelona president Joan Laporta rub salt in City’s wounds over the transfer of Ilkay Gundogan.
The midfielder played a crucial role in City winning the treble last season, scoring six goals in his final seven games for the club. As Gundogan was City’s captain, he got to lift the magic trio of the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League.
Gundogan’s future at City has been up for debate for several months. His agent said a final decision would not be made until the end of the campaign to help his client focus on winning as many trophies with City as possible – and that strategy worked wonders.
But with Gundogan’s contract expiring at the end of June, City gradually became more worried about him leaving them on a free transfer as the season went on
Mikel Arteta was interested in taking him to Arsenal, having found huge success with the captures of Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus from City. Borussia Dortmund, meanwhile, were hoping to take him back to the Bundesliga.
But Barca were widely viewed as the frontrunners to sign the 32-year-old. And his move to the Nou Camp was confirmed by City on Monday.
Gundogan has penned a two-year contract with Barca which includes the option of an extra 12 months.
During an interview with Tv3 (via Fabrizio Romano), Laporta has boasted about Gundogan’s signing by saying: “Gundogan? He has picked Barcelona over City’s bigger financial proposal.
Joan Laporta discusses Man City raid
“He told me about his dream to play for Barcelona.”
Guardiola still has love for Barca, having had huge success both as a player and manager there. But he was eager to keep Gundogan at City for a couple more seasons and will therefore be annoyed with Laporta for these comments
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