Ilkay Gundogan has paid tribute to Pep Guardiola and his Manchester City teammates after completing his move to Barcelona.
The 32-year-old ended the 2022-23 season on a historic high after successfully leading the Citizens to a Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League treble.
Gundogan won a total of 14 trophies with Man City across a legendary seven-year career at the Etihad, but he had now decided to join Barcelona on a free transfer when his Citizens contract expires on June 30.
The German has opened up on his "bittersweet" and "emotional" departure from the Etihad and has admitted that none of the success that he achieved would have been possible without the guidance of Guardiola.
Gundogan has admitted that Guardiola, who welcomed the midfielder to the blue side of Manchester as his first-ever signing back in 2016, hoped the duo would leave the Etihad together after making "one of the hardest calls" to tell the Catalan boss that he is joining Barcelona.
In a statement via The Players' Tribune, Gundogan said: "I have to say, none of this would have been possible without Pep. There are times when he is so demanding of how we play and so intense that it can be a bit difficult, mentally. But once everyone gets on the same page and we are in harmony on the pitch, his system is so efficient that it almost feels effortless.
"I have always felt a close bond with Pep. He once told me, 'I wish that I could play with 11 midfielders. You guys can all see the game five steps ahead.'
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"One of the hardest calls I had to make was to Pep, telling him that I was going to leave. All I could do was to say thank you. Not just for this season, or for all the trophies, but for bringing me here in the first place.
"I will never forget when I hurt my knee at the end of the season with Dortmund and I had to get surgery, I was so worried that City would pull out of the deal for me. But Pep called me on the phone and said, 'Don't worry, it doesn't change anything. We want you here. We will wait for you no matter how long it takes.'
"I can only imagine what the fans thought when this quiet guy with the funny name arrived here in Manchester for a lot of money and he was limping around on crutches at the unveiling. Well, all I can say is.... I came here limping on one foot, but I leave here feeling like I am flying in the clouds.
"After the treble, and after the spectacular parade in the Manchester rain, I thought to myself: 'How could it ever have worked out better than this? What more could you have achieved? How could you write something more perfect?' And the answer was, You couldn't."
Gundogan added: "I think maybe Pep (who is out of contract at Man City in June 2025) was hoping that we would come here to City together and leave together, but I know that he understands my decision. I am sure it helps that I'm going to his boyhood club. Hopefully we'll have a reunion soon in a Champions League final.
"If I was going to move, there is only one club in the world that made sense. It was Barcelona or nothing. Ever since I was a little kid, I dreamed of wearing that shirt someday. I am confident that I have a few more years left at the highest level, and I just want to help bring Barcelona back to where they deserve to be.
Gundogan had also heaped praise on a number of his Man City teammates including Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland, labelling the former as "one of the nicest guys I've met in football" while comparing the latter to icons Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
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"I just want to say that Jack Grealish is so misunderstood by some of the media. He is one of the nicest guys I've met in football," said Gundogan. "He's so much fun to be around and so humble and pure.
"I felt so happy for his success this season, because I know what it's like to come to a big club for a lot of money, with all that pressure. He worked so hard to get to another level this season, and he was fantastic for us.
"Then you have Erling Haaland. Honestly, I didn't know what to expect when he came here. You see the goals and all the attention that he was getting at Dortmund, and you wonder if he's going to fit with the group.
"But when I got to know him, I was so surprised how someone could be that talented and still have the will to be even better every single day. He's never satisfied. I feel like there are no limits for him. Messi and Ronaldo are the only comparison for the level he could reach."
Gundogan also gave special mentions to German compatriot Stefan Ortega and midfield partner Kevin De Bruyne, adding: "Another guy who made a huge difference in my life on a personal level was Stefan Ortega, our second keeper. As Germans, we had a lot in common, and just having our espresso together every day for the last year helped me to open up a lot more.
"If he wasn't here, I don't think I would have had the same season. In football, you need those anchors, and Stefan was that for me. I also got a lot closer to Kevin De Bruyne this season. I felt like I could talk to him about anything, and it really makes a big difference when you know you can trust your teammates as more than just colleagues."
Gundogan departs Man City after scoring 60 goals and providing 40 assists from midfield in 304 appearances across all competitions.
