A familiar face returned to Manchester City recently, as Ilkay Gundogan rejoined the Blues from Barcelona.
After spending seven years at the Etihad Stadium between 2016 and 2023, the German left the club as a free agent to join Barcelona on a three-year deal.
However, after just one year at the Spanish club, Gundogan returned to Pep Guardiola’s side, signing a one-year deal with an option for another one.
Once his move back to City was announced, the 33-year-old shared some details about one particular factor that his return to Manchester has now led to.
Ilkay Gundogan explains his new shirt number at Manchester City
After it was announced that Gundogan will be wearing the number 19 after having the number eight in his first spell at City, the midfielder said this to the club’s official website about why he chose that particular number.
He said: “There was a little bit of thinking behind it.
“Obviously, number 21 and 22 were free as well and I was last year 22 in Barcelona and I was 21 in the German national team, but I didn’t win any trophies with these numbers.
“So, I thought OK and number 19 is between 18 and 20 between my two friends Bernardo Silva and Stefan Ortega.
“So that might be a sign, you know, and I just went for it. So let’s see.
“It’s hopefully not the number that will have a big influence it will be the way I am playing like the way I’m behaving and the way we will be as a team, and I can assure you that we will try our best to win a lot.”
Gundogan will want another successful spell at City
With a new number on his back, Gundogan said that he can’t wait to work with Guardiola again.
In his first spell at City, the midfielder donned the number eight shirt, which is now worn by Mateo Kovacic, who joined the club in the same transfer window Gundogan left for Barcelona.
During his time at the club, the German scored 60 goals, delivered 38 assists and won multiple trophies.
Now that he’s shared the details on why he’s picked the number 19, which Julian Alvarez recently wore before he joined Atletico Madrid earlier this month, the focus now for Gundogan will be on having another successful time with City.
