Ilkay Gundogan - Done Deal

[richards30]

Saturday could be fun now!

 

[MillisleBlue]

Never heard of 'im. Does he track back?

 

[Xhavenjoe]

Medical booked in for Thursday.

What's your ailment?
Not serious, I hope

 

[OB1]

I know this is fairly new news. But i swear i read an article last month where he said in an interview that he regretted leaving City, and hoped there was some path back. Cannot find it now.

I saw a story to that effect yesterday online, appeared to be quoting from a Mail interview.

 

[Ajm1985]

You've stated what our number 6 options will look like this time next year, which is hypothetical as we could quite easily bring someone in next summer

Either way, I don't think there is another club in Europe that would go into next season with 3 better options for that positions

30 years old is a great age for that position; you don't need pace, but you need to be able to understand the game

Kovacic and Rodri could play until they're 33/34 in that postion

The transfer window next year opens in June, which is why I said by June, not 'this time next year'. If you believe that's good future planning, that's fine, I disagree.

 

[Xhavenjoe]

Never heard of 'im. Does he track back?

He does although it took him the best part of a year for him to track back from Barcelona

 

[SamBlue]

Such a blinkered view. Football, business and life are multi faceted and complex. So to have such a simplistic rule of, once you're gone you're gone, makes zero sense and could mean you miss out on great opportunities and gains for the sake of a silly pre defined moral.

It is not my view you have issue with, it is Gundo's. He decided his stay at City came to its natural end, he ain't stupid man he knew our position with players of his age and realised he would get better deal and easier life - both in and out of football - with Barcelona. And he moved on, totally supported his decision. But I might be selfish, he's been one of my favourite City players and I would to have memory of him when he was at his peak.

 

[Kazzydeyna]

Won

How can I sell it to you?

We need someone who can take the strain off Rodri and De Bruyne this season and Gundo's dependable and available on a free transfer. It makes complete sense. He won't have been signed thinking he's going to get regular minutes - this is Foden's team now and the likes of Kovacic and McAtee are going to have bigger roles in the future.

This is like us signing David Pizzaro or Frank Lampard back in the day, only we've signed a better player than Pizarro - with a bigger sentimental attachment to the club and fans than Lampard - who already understands what Pep wants. I normally say "don't go back" and I'd probably be against this if we were planning on paying a fee, but we're not.

Above all, though, football does have room for sentimentality and nostalgia, no matter how many people say it's a ruthless sport. Aside from what Gundo will bring to the team, at least now we'll get to give him a proper goodbye. He's a treble-winning captain and the club buggered up his chance to go off into the sunset with a wave - now we can put that right.

We've won everything there is to win in the game so I'm not really after trophies this season. I just want fun and good vibes. Doku and Savinho are fun, Lewis, Bobb, and McAtee are good vibes, and Gundogan coming back to share minutes with De Bruyne while Foden is given the reigns is such a sweet passing of the torch ceremony that I might cry

Wonderful post. Thank you.

 

[ClaudioDeyna]

Soft twat that I am, I just know I'll be welling up when I see him in blue again.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

Oh Gundo's fucking magic
He's City till he dies
He scored against United
And he made the scousers cry
He went to Barcelona but left because they're shite
Now he's back at super City coz they're dyna fuckin myte

Ooooooohhhhh