Ilkay Gundogan’s move to Barcelona ‘left me shocked’, admits Sara Gundogan… as she reveals she was on holiday when she received the news and ‘didn’t take it seriously’

Sara Gündogan has revealed she was surprised when she found out Ilkay Gündogan was joining Barcelona last summer.

Sara, formerly Sara Arfaoui, started dating the Barcelona and Germany star in 2021 before tying the knot a year later. They have one son together, Kais, who was born in March 2023.

Sara is one of the stars of Prime Video’s new series Married to the game which follows the lives of five football WAGS, aiming to provide insight into the realities of dating a top footballer.

Ilkay moved to the Catalan giants when his contract with Man City expired after they fought off competition from several clubs, including City’s attempts to keep the 33-year-old.

And Sara – who was a hugely successful TV presenter and model before meeting Ilkay – explained she didn’t expect the midfielder to make the choice and revealed she was on holiday when she found out the news.

Sara revealed she was on holiday when she discovered the news after disbelieving the rumours

Ilkay joined the Catalan giants after a seven-year spell at Manchester City

“I didn’t really believe those rumours,” she told Mail Sport exclusively. ‘Every summer and January, in every transfer market, people always came to me with rumours.

“Some people even texted me to say, ‘Are you going to Italy?’ and I never took anything seriously.

“I had friends texting me saying I was coming back, and I was like, ‘No.’ It just happened. And the funny fact is that I didn’t take it seriously.

‘I thought, no, that can’t be the case, because my husband has lived in Manchester for years and I don’t see this happening.

She continued: ‘I was in Italy, it was holiday. It was my first holiday with my baby and I went to meet all my friends. So I was a bit in my bubble, let’s say baby bubble.

‘And I just got a phone call and it was like, ‘we’re going there.’ I didn’t take it seriously. I don’t know if it was a shock. So it took me some time to realize what was going on.”

Sara went on to explain that despite her surprise at the move, she did offer Ilkay some advice as she weighed different options, while also expressing her pride in his bravery.

She added: “Every player calls Barcelona their dream team since they were a child. So when I was asked, I wasn’t asked any technical things.

‘And I always say: follow your dreams. In any case, I cannot advise in any other way.

“I am really proud of my husband because at his age it is not easy to think that I want a new challenge when you feel comfortable and are the captain of another team.

‘Because you are also so successful at City, it is always a risk to take on a new challenge.

“So I’m very proud that he took a risk and for him it was a childhood dream to play for Barcelona.”

Sara revealed that she told her husband to follow his dreams when asked for advice on the road

She also explained that life in Barcelona is different, but they love living by the sea

Sara also revealed that she, Ilkay and son Kais are about to move into their fifth place since moving to Spain, as they try to find a permanent place.

And while they are still adjusting to city life and missing Manchester, she is also enjoying a new lifestyle.

“It’s different,” she said. ‘The city is very beautiful and located right on the sea. So it’s a different lifestyle. I feel like it’s more like a vacation.

‘It is no longer the life we ​​used to have, because it is a very touristy place with a lot of people.

“We still haven’t found a place we can call home, but of course that takes time.”