Ilkay Gundogan’s recent critical comments about his Barcelona teammates have sparked discussions on how his words were received among different groups within the team. It’s revealed that players usually group themselves by age and nationality. The predominant group is Spanish-speaking, including Marcos Alonso, Pedri, Gavi, Ferran Torres, and Inigo Martinez. Additionally, younger players who recently advanced to the senior team, such as Pau Cubarsi, Hector Fort, and Marc Guiu, among others, form a more reserved circle, with some bonds notably strengthened through shared time at La Masia.
Team Dynamics and Pre-Clasico Unity at Barcelona
Roberto enjoys strong friendships with some players from Northern Europe, including Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Frenkie de Jong, and Andreas Christensen. He has a particularly close relationship with Ter Stegen, though Ilkay Gundogan and Robert Lewandowski are also integral to this group.
Joao Cancelo closely mentors Lamine Yamal and other young players, but primarily associates with Portuguese speakers like Joao Felix, Vitor Roque, and Raphinha. Araujo, fluent in Portuguese, often joins the Latin American group, especially Raphinha.
Following rumors of a rift fueled by comments from Araujo, he and Gundogan are scheduled to resolve their issues this Friday. Coach Xavi Hernandez aims for team cohesion ahead of the crucial El Clasico on Sunday, emphasizing unity as essential for their hopes of victory at Santiago Bernabeu.
