Barcelona ‘apologise to Ilkay Gundogan and wife Sara Arfaoui for making them feel ABANDONED after they were offered no help with housing or transport’ following his move from Man City
Barcelona have reportedly apologised to Ilkay Gundogan and his wife Sara Arfaoui after making them feel ‘abandoned’ following their arrival.
Gundogan had complained to the club that he was disappointed with the amount of support he received when he was settling in.
The 33-year-old joined the Catalan giants on a free transfer in the summer after a Treble-winning campaign with Manchester City.
He expected to receive more help with things such as housing, transport, and care for his family and complained as a result, as per SPORT.
Barcelona’s summer was in disarray due to their player registration restrictions, meaning that Gundogan was only registered shortly before their season opener against Getafe – despite joining weeks earlier.
Barcelona have apologised to Ilkay Gundogan and his wife Sara Arfaoui after the midfielder complained about feeling ‘abandoned’
Gundogan and Arfaoui, pictured on their honeymoon, arrived in Barcelona this summer
He was expecting to received more support with things such as housing and transport
SPORT claims that his unease is part of a wider problem at the club, with reserve players apparently having to take on other jobs to fund their travel to training.
Barca have started their season reasonably well and top their Champions League gorup, but will hope to climb higher than fourth soon and were reeling after an El Clasico defeat last weekend.
Gundogan suggested his team-mates were not hurt enough by the defeat, in which he scored the opener.
He said: ‘Of course people are disappointed but after such a big game, and such result. I wish there was more anger, frustration and disappointment.
‘There has to be more emotion, especially when you lose.
Gundogan was dejected after the El Clasico defeat and suggested his team-mates were not hurt enough
The club have reportedly apologised to Gundogan after he complained about his treatment (Gundogan is pictured here with club president Joan Laporta)
Arfaoui and Gundogan married last year but felt ‘abandoned’ by the club when settling into a new place
‘You know you can do better in certain situations and you don’t react, and this transfers to the pitch at the end of the day.’
They have now dropped points in three of their last five LaLiga outings after draws against Mallorca and Granada, but this was their first loss all season.
Gundogan finished 14th in the Ballon d’Or rankings on Monday night after perhaps his best seasons in a City shirt.
He and Arfaoui married in 2022.