Pep Guardiola ‘misses’ one former Man City player and massively regrets selling him

Pep Guardiola deeply regrets allowing a crucial player to leave last summer, as the replacements haven’t matched up to the former City star.

While Guardiola’s transfer decisions have generally been sound, he’s now reflecting on the mistake of letting Ilkay Gündogan go for free, as reported by Mundo Deportivo.

The report highlights that Pep Guardiola and Manchester City have keenly felt the absence of Gündogan this season, missing his influence, style of play, and impact on the team.

Despite attempts to replace him, the new signings have failed to fill the void, leading to regret over not securing Gündogan’s renewal.

Gündogan, who joined Barcelona after his contract expired at City, has been performing well in La Liga, scoring five goals and providing seven assists this season.

Guardiola brought in Matheus Nunes and Mateo Kovacic during the summer as attempts to fill the void left by Gündogan, but neither has been able to replicate his impact, especially as a leader within the squad.

Gündogan was not only a key player on the field but also a vital presence in the locker room. His intelligence, ability to find spaces, passing skills, and overall contribution made him indispensable.

Mundo Deportivo also suggests that Gündogan played a crucial role in Erling Haaland’s form, and the slight decline in Haaland’s performance could be attributed to the absence of the 33-year-old midfielder.

Gündogan’s knack for scoring crucial goals often helped City break through tough opposition, and without him, the team seems to be struggling to fully utilize Haaland’s attacking prowess.