Ilkay Gundogan made a shocking return to Manchester City this summer, just a year after leaving for Barcelona. The midfielder spent a year in LaLiga and decided to leave owing to financial issues of the Spanish side.

The former City captain is now back, and revealed that longtime patron and Oasis frontman Noel Gallagher sent him a message to encourage him to return.

Ilkay Gundogan reveals Noel Gallagher sent him a message to return to City

🔵🔴💭 Ilkay Gündogan: “I don’t regret joining Barça. At the end, I played for one of the biggest teams in the world”.

“I fulfilled one of my childhood dreams, playing for Barça and wearing that badge”. pic.twitter.com/b7YBVjB4Ze
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 20, 2024

The Oasis singer reportedly texted him, “Come back, brother!” to motivate him to return to Manchester. And soon enough, he was back like he never left.

Gundogan now wears the number 19 shirt at the club, with his previous number 8 now donned by Mateo Kovacic, who joined the club from Chelsea. The German has already started his first game back for the Sky Blues, and will surely be a huge boost for their season going ahead.

He was one of the top players for the club over the last few seasons, and established himself as a goal threat at multiple points throughout the campaign as well. Now, it remains to be seen how the veteran adapts to life back in England and how he can build on his legacy.