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Gundogan returns to Manchester City
The 33-year-old was Pep Guardiola’s first signing at Manchester City and he spent the next seven years at the club. He led the club to a historic treble as captain before leaving to fulfil a childhood dream, joining Barcelona.
Gundogan spent a fruitless season at Barcelona before the club's financial strait forced his exit and a sensational return to Manchester City.
Upon his return, Gundogan opted for jersey number 19, different from the 22 he wore at Barcelona and the 21 with the German national team at the European Championships. Although both numbers were available, Gundogan opted to go a different route, and he explained why.
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What Gundogan said
“There was a little bit of thinking behind it,” the German said. “Numbers 21 and 22 were free as well; I was 22 last year at Barcelona and 21 in the German National Team but I didn’t win any trophies with these numbers, so I thought number 19 was between 18 and 20—my two friends Bernardo Silva and Stefan Ortega—so that might be a sign.
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"I just went for it—let's see. It’s hopefully not the number that will have a big influence; it’s hopefully the way I am playing and behaving and the way we will be as a team. I can assure you will try our best to win more.”
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