Guardiola Kicks Off Man City Career with Ilkay Gundogan as First Signing

Manchester City start their new era under Guardiola by signing German midfielder Ilkay Gundogan on a four-year deal.

(Image credit: MCFC Twitter)

Ilkay Gundogan expressed his joy at singing with the Premier League side, after Man City and his former club Borussia Dortmund agreed on a reported £20 million transfer fee. “When I learned of City’s interest, my heart was set on coming. Things have moved very quickly,” said the 25-year-old midfielder.

The German international commented that playing for a manager like Guardiola plays a big factor, and he’s honoured to have been the first Man City singing for the new season. “The opportunity to work with a coach like Pep Guardiola is something I am really looking forward to and I am flattered to be the first signing the club has made this summer,” said Ilkay Gundogan. “I will give everything to help us win titles both in England and the Champions League. These are exciting times. I have my best years ahead of me and I think we can achieve great things together.”

Man City’s football director, Txiki Begiristain, heaped praise on the talented midfielder who has been on Guardiola’s radar for some time, before joining him at the Etihad Stadium. “He is an intelligent and versatile midfielder who can operate in a number of different roles. He will be a very important player for us in the coming years,” said the 51-year-old, who used to work with Guardiola for two seasons at Barcelona.

According to The Guardian, Man City are also looking to add a defender this summer, and the name that’s been doing the rounds in the media is the young Brazilian Marquinhos. His current club PSG paid over €30 million to acquire his service from AS Roma in 2013, but it is believed the Sky Blues will have to shell out more than that, as Barcelona seem to have once again expressed interest in signing him, as Javier Mascherano and Marc Bartra are set to depart the club.

Online sportsbook Betsafe is the official betting partner of Man City, and they offer a full range of sports options to wager on, and special offers on Man City markets. (For more info about the online sportsbook, check out Betting Herald’s Betsafe Sports Review.)

You can place a bet on Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale joining the Citizens before August 31, with the odds being 25.00 (24/1) for that market. The online sportsbook also offers odds on the following players to join the ranks of Man City before August 31: Ross Barkley 25.00 (24/1), Paul Pogba 15.00 (14/1) and John Stones 10.00 (9/1).

With Pep Guardiola taking over the helm of the club, they’re the automatic favourites to win the Premier League title next season. Online sportsbook Betsafe gives them odds of 2.75 (7/4) to lift the crown in the Catalan’s first season at the club, and considering the incoming firepower they’re like to clinch their third Premier League triumph in six years next season. For the more audacious bettors, the online sportsbook offers 6.00 (5/1) odds for Guardiola to clinch back-to-back titles in his first two seasons with Man City.

With Ilkay Gundogan and a number of other players likely to join the club pretty soon, we can easily see them being serial Premier League champions. But when it comes to the question of winning the domestic Treble, we have some reservations about that. Nonetheless, if you’re feeling overly ambitious, online sportsbooks Betsafe offers 30.00 (29/1) chances for Guardiola to clinch the domestic Treble in his first season in charge.