ILKAY GUNDOGAN enjoyed his Manchester City homecoming and says it feels like he has never been away.

Last summer the 33-year-old brought the curtain down on seven medal-laden years at the Etihad Stadium, joining Barcelona on a free transfer after captaining the side to the treble.

Gundogan left as a club great and was received as such as the midfielder made his second debut as a substitute in Saturday’s 4-1 win comeback win against promoted Ipswich.

“Yesterday, I trained for the first time with the boys and it honestly feels like I’ve never been away and it feels like home. It’s such a joy,” he said.

“I have so much happiness to play again for this amazing club in front of this amazing crowd with these amazing players. I feel very privileged.

“It’s also emotions. I got a lot of feedback over the last two days, a lot of people messaging me. Ninety nine per cent of them were honestly so positive and emotional.

“I kind of expected that with a good result today that it would be an amazing day. Luckily it turned out like that.

“I could not have wished for a better start. I’m very proud to be back and to be with the people here with all these memories.

“Hopefully we can try to make better and new memories for the future.”

Gundogan has signed a one-year deal at City with the option of a further season and is excited to be playing under meticulous Pep Guardiola again.

“Pep is so demanding,” he said. “This is exactly what I love and enjoy. Because every year, I feel personally I have to reach my limits and get challenged. That’s one quality that is incredible in him.”

City next head to West Ham before the international break, while promoted Ipswich will look to get their first Premier League win since 2002 at home to Fulham.