🎥 Was this the moment Guardiola sealed Gündoğan's return to Man City? | OneFootball

So it’s almost official.

Just over a year after leaving for Barcelona, Manchester City’s treble winning captain İlkay Gündoğan is set to return to the club on a free transfer, as was widely reported on Wednesday morning.

Gündoğan was Pep Guardiola’s first signing when the Catalan coach took the reins at City in the summer of 2016, and the pair enjoyed a close relationship during the seven years they previously spent together in Manchester – so close that they were actually next door neighbours!

When City took on Barcelona in a pre-season friendly in the United States over the summer, Gündoğan and Guardiola were reunited and shared a warm embrace.

Could this have been the moment the German international began thinking about a return to City?

Guardiola and Gündoğan won five Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups and the Champions League during the midfielder’s first spell at the Etihad Stadium.

They will be hoping to add to that haul in the 2024/25 season.