Ilkay Gundogan disputes Man City exit claim and confirms why he snubbed Arsenal
The Mirror Ilkay Gundogan has admitted that he snubbed interest from Arsenal and other suitors this summer because playing for Barcelona was his "childhood dream".
Gundogan, 32, enjoyed a trophy-laden seven-year spell at the Etihad before turning down a contract extension in the summer. The veteran midfielder decided to seek a new challenge just weeks after winning the treble with City and was also the subject of surprise transfer interest from the Gunners.
It was Barcelona, though, who won the race for the German international's signature, with plenty speculating that Gundogan had been won over by the offer of a longer deal. It had been reported that Manchester City had only offered the former Borussia Dortmund ace a one-year deal.
But in an interview with German outlet BILD, Gundogan has scotched talk that he left City over the length of any deal before revealing that he would have probably stayed with the champions had they started contract talks sooner.
