Ilkay Gundogan has explained his decision to leave Treble-winners Manchester City and join Barcelona on a free transfer.

Barcelona announced the signing of the Manchester City midfielder on Monday.

He was out of contract with City at the end of the month and agreed to join Barca on a two-year deal with the option for a third year.

City were reportedly unwilling to match Barca’s financial offer and would only extend Gundogan’s contract for one year with an option for a second.

Gundogan told The Players’ Tribune: “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.

“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 some day.

“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.”

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