Ilkay Gundogan has revealed why he passed up a reunion with Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.
Gundogan became Pep Guardiola’s first signing as Manchester City manager in a £20 million switch from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2016.
The Reds were in the hunt for the Germany international, who had previously worked with Klopp during a four-year spell with the Bundesliga giants.
However Gundogan admits that the need for a fresh challenge prompted the move to the Etihad Stadium rather than joining his compatriot at Anfield.
“I believe in challenges in life and I always try to challenge myself first of all,” he told Fantasy PL.
“I feel like if I don’t challenge myself and get out of my comfort zone, I’m not going to change anything and won’t improve.
“So I had a great four years with Jurgen and I love him as a person and a manager but I felt it was time for something else.
“I wanted to leave Dortmund in Dortmund and didn’t want to think about the time that I had with him when I was joining a new club.
“That was a bit of the reason why I didn’t want to join Liverpool.”