Real Reason Ilkay Gundogan Picked the Number 19 Jersey at Manchester City

• Ilkay Gundogan has been unveiled at the Etihad after he made a return to his old stomping grounds, Manchester City
• The 33-year-old returns to the English champions, a year after he left the club for Spanish outfit FC Barcelona
• The former Dortmund playmaker has chosen to wear the number 19 shirt, previously worn by Julian Alvarez

Just over a year after departing the club for a lucrative contract with Barcelona, Ilkay Gundogan has made his return to Manchester City.

The retired German international and former club captain left on a triumphant note, having led the Citizens to a historic treble before moving to Catalonia in 2023.

After being excluded from Hansi Flick's squad for his first La Liga match with Barcelona, discussions about a return to the Etihad gained momentum.

On Friday, it was confirmed that the 33-year-old had finalised his return and would wear the number 19 this season.

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The midfielder, who previously wore number eight, shared the reasoning behind his new choice.

Gundogan picks number 19 shirt

During his first tenure at the club, Gundogan wore the number eight, but he couldn't reclaim it due to Mateo Kovacic taking over the jersey.

Although numbers 21 and 22 were available—both of which he had worn while playing for his national team and Barcelona—he ultimately chose the number 19 for his return.

While this choice might seem unusual, Gundogan offered a touching explanation for his decision via the club's official website:

"There was a little bit of thinking behind it. 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."

Toni Kroos reacts to Gundogan's Barcelona exit

In an earlier publication, Legit.ng reported that Gundogan's departure from Camp Nou has left the football world in shock.

The news even surprised former footballer Toni Kroos, who responded with a stunned "Wow" to Fabrizio Romano's announcement.

Source: YEN.com.gh