Ilkay Gündogan will have an ally in the FC Barcelona locker room as he reunites with Robert Lewandowski. The two players had a great understanding during a successful period at Borussia Dortmund under the guidance of Jürgen Klopp.
Gündogan and Lewandowski spent three seasons together, from 2011-12 to 2013-14. In their first season, they won the Bundesliga, which was Dortmund’s last league title before Bayern Munich’s dominant reign.
The following season, they lifted the Supercup and reached the final of the UEFA Champions League at Wembley. Dortmund faced Bayern Munich in the final but suffered a 2-1 defeat, despite Gündogan scoring one of the goals.
Lewandowski had a memorable performance in the semifinal against Real Madrid, where he netted all four goals in Dortmund’s 4-1 victory. His iconic image of showing four fingers became legendary.
In the summer of 2014, Lewandowski moved to Bayern Munich, while Gündogan remained at Dortmund for two more seasons before joining Manchester City. Now, their paths will cross again at FC Barcelona.
This reunion owes much to the intervention of Xavi Hernández, who successfully convinced Gündogan that he would continue to enjoy his football wearing the iconic blue and garnet jersey.
As Gündogan and Lewandowski come together once more, Barcelona fans eagerly anticipate the revival of the chemistry and success they previously experienced at Dortmund. With Xavi’s influence and the reunion of these talented players, Barcelona’s future looks promising.
