'Get your shoes on!' - Pep Guardiola's no-nonsense message to Ilkay Gundogan as he insists returning hero hasn't come back to Man City to retire

Gundogan sealed an unexpected return to City on Friday, little more than a year after leaving for Barcelona after signing off a seven-year period at the club in which he scored 60 goals in 304 games and hoisted 14 trophies.

"He has not come here to retire, or remember the good memories, now it's time to get your shoes on, and play your best," Guardiola told a press conference. "He knows what we have to do, he doesn't need to adapt; he knows the city, he knows the club, he knows his teammates, the way we want to play. So he will be immediately settled good, and that's why we did it."

Gundogan played a decisive role in City winning three Premier League titles in a row between 2021 and 2023 and and he adds yet more competition to a dominant, albeit ageing midfield. He is only City's second signing of the summer after winger Savinho joined from Troyes and the fact he arrives on a free transfer means the club still have the £82m ($107m) they cashed in on Julian Alvarez's sale to Atletico Madrid to spend on new players.

However, Guardiola said he did not expect City to add any more to his squad before the transfer window shuts on September 1. "I don't think so," he said. "I don't know what's going to happen, maybe something happens in terms of injuries - hopefully not - or the market provides something unexpected that financially suits, or tactically... Right now I don't think so..."

The champions play their first home game of the new season against promoted Ipswich Town on Saturday. Gundogan is unlikely to be involved in the matchday squad while Rodri is also not expected to be fit as he is still recovering from the injury he sustained in the European Championship final.