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Barcelona 'apologise to Gundogan & wife Arfaoui for making them feel ABANDONED‘

  /  autty

Barcelona have reportedly apologised to Ilkay Gundogan and his wife Sara Arfaoui after making them feel 'abandoned' following their arrival.

Gundogan had complained to the club that he was disappointed with the amount of support he received when he was settling in.

The 33-year-old joined the Catalan giants on a free transfer in the summer after a Treble-winning campaign with Manchester City.

He expected to receive more help with things such as housing, transport, and care for his family and complained as a result, as per SPORT.

Barcelona's summer was in disarray due to their player registration restrictions, meaning that Gundogan was only registered shortly before their season opener against Getafe - despite joining weeks earlier.

SPORT claims that his unease is part of a wider problem at the club, with reserve players apparently having to take on other jobs to fund their travel to training.

Barca have started their season reasonably well and top their Champions League gorup, but will hope to climb higher than fourth soon and were reeling after an El Clasico defeat last weekend.

Gundogan suggested his team-mates were not hurt enough by the defeat, in which he scored the opener.

He said: 'Of course people are disappointed but after such a big game, and such result. I wish there was more anger, frustration and disappointment.

'There has to be more emotion, especially when you lose.

'You know you can do better in certain situations and you don't react, and this transfers to the pitch at the end of the day.'

They have now dropped points in three of their last five LaLiga outings after draws against Mallorca and Granada, but this was their first loss all season.

Gundogan finished 14th in the Ballon d'Or rankings on Monday night after perhaps his best seasons in a City shirt.

He and Arfaoui married in 2022.