Ilkay Gundogan admits conversations with Xavi were part of the reason why he turned down ‘bigger offers’ from other clubs – as he is unveiled as a Barcelona player

Ilkay Gundogan has been unveiled as a Barcelona player, inking his new contract with the club during a ceremony today that also saw him enjoy a ‘kick-about’ with club president Joan Laporta. 

The 32-year-old, who’s contract at Manchester City expired in June, was seen in a video on club’s Twitter account signing his new deal next to Laporta, before shaking hands with the Spaniard. 

Mail Sport understands that German midfielder will join the club on a two-year contract, following a glittering seven-year spell at Manchester City, that saw him win five Premier League titles while captaining City to the Champions League final and that historic Treble last month. 

Gundogan has the option to extend his contract for a third season but it is also unlikely that he’ll be departing the club during that time, with Barcelona inserting a whopping a £342million release clause into his contract. 

Pep Guardiola has previously admitted that he wished the German international ‘would stay’ at Manchester City, but on the expiry of his contract, it appears that Gundogan’s conversations with Xavi were pivotal in helping the LaLiga champions acquire the former City captain. 

Gundogan will reportedly join on a two-year deal that will include a hefty release clause and the option to extend for an extra season

‘The first moment we talked to each other, I just felt it was right to come here, join the club and have the opportunity to prove myself at a different club and a different country,’ Gundogan said, on his conversations with Xavi. ‘I was close to coming here two times earlier but it was not meant to be. Now it is the time.

‘Xavi made his ideas of how the team wants to play very clear. It’s very similar to how we played in Man City. It’s a similar school, Guardiola, Xavi… In the way he approached the talks, the honesty from him I saw sort of my own character reflected in him.

‘It was probably not much of what he said but especially how he said it, which sometimes is more important.’

After joining alongside Guardiola in 2016, the midfielder revealed his phone call telling the Spaniard that he would be departing City was one of the ‘hardest calls he has ever made’. 

Gundogan has dazzled this year, notably scoring a brace during City’s FA Cup triumph against Manchester United, earning himself the man of the match during that game too. 

And while he’ll be moving to pastures new, Barcelona have clearly been excited to welcome him to the club, with Laporta admitting that several other clubs had made big offers to sign him. 

‘The first player Xavi asked for this summer. It’s an honour he chose our offer. We made a good proposal financially, but it was not the best he had. He preferred Barca’s prestige and history over other offers,’ the president said according to Samuel Marsden. 

Laporta (left) spoke of his excitement on the new signing, revealing Gundogan (right) had chosen to join Barcelona despite receiving several ‘big offers’ from other clubs 

The pair were pictured signing several contractual documents today in a ceremony

Having recently departed Manchester City as a free agent back in June, Gundogan was also seen posing in a Barcelona kit

Director of football Mateu Alemany added: ‘The first time we sounded out the deal was when we signed Christensen in 2022.

‘Since January, there have been difficult negotiations. Other offers were bigger financially than ours and it’s not easy to come to an understanding with the agents.’

Apart from Gundogan, the cash-strapped club have been relatively quiet in the transfer window so far, with Gundogan and Inigo Martinez, both free agents, being their first two signings. 

Neymar Jr had reportedly been linked with a sensational move back to the football club while questions revolve around Gavi’s future at the LaLiga outfit.