Last summer, Barcelona enjoyed a strong transfer window, signing some top players like Robert Lewandowski, Jules Kounde, Andreas Christensen, and Raphinha among others.
And one of the main reasons behind these players choosing the Blaugrana when they had several other options was manager Xavi Hernandez. Many have gone on record stating how their conversations with the 43-year-old tactician convinced them to join Barça.
And it seems like the manager is working his charm once again heading into the summer transfer window.
Indeed, according to Ferran Correas and David Bernabeu Reverter of SPORT, Xavi has already held as many as three conversations with Manchester City captain Ilkay Gundogan to convince him to join Barcelona this summer.
Gundogan will be a free agent after June 30 with his contract at the Etihad Stadium set to expire. The Cityzens are trying hard to convince him to continue at the club while there is interest from Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund, and more recently, PSG.
However, multiple outlets in Spain are reporting that Gundogan already has a verbal agreement with Barcelona over a three-year contract. And, Xavi’s conversations with the German midfielder are said to have been key to this.
The report claims that Xavi impressed upon Gundogan how playing for Barcelona is bigger than anything he has experienced in his career so far – something that Lewandowski has also acknowledged.
“You have played in big teams like Dortmund and Manchester City, being coached by Pep Guardiola, but when you arrive at Barça, you will see that it has nothing to do with what you have experienced. Barça is different, it is the biggest,” Xavi is understood to have said.
Meanwhile, Xavi also made it abundantly clear to Gundogan that he will have an important role in his plans for next season. It must be noted that Barcelona already have some quality operators in midfield in the form of Frenkie de Jong, Pedri, Gavi, and Franck Kessie.
But Xavi assured Gundogan that he will have a prominent role in the team as he can play in any role in the middle of the park.
As such, the Barcelona manager is believed to have played a key role in convincing Gundogan to join the club. And the La Liga champions hope to finalise and announce his signing soon after the UEFA Champions League final.