Ilkay Gundogan snubs a photo opportunity with his Barcelona team-mates and walks off at the Ballon d’Or awards ceremony – just days after he criticised his side’s lack of ‘anger and frustration’ after losing to Real Madrid 

• Barcelona star Ilkay Gundogan ranked 14th in the Ballon d’Or standings this year
• But, he appeared to snub his team-mates at the awards ceremony on Monday 
• Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast ‘It’s All Kicking Off!’ 

Ilkay Gundogan appeared to snub a photo opportunity with his Barcelona team-mates at the Ballon d’Or awards ceremony.

The German midfielder moved to Barcelona in the summer after a hugely decorated spell with Manchester City. Gundogan won 14 trophies during his seven seasons at the Etihad – including five Premier League titles – and was captain as City won the Treble last season.  

His performances while with City saw him in the running for the prestigious Ballon d’Or trophy, before he ended up ranking in 14th.

At the ceremony on Monday in Paris, he was joined by Barcelona vice-president Rafa Yuste, president Joan Laporta and team-mates Alejandro Balde and Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Balde came seventh in the Kopa Trophy – the award given to the best player under the age of 21 – while Ter Stegen came fifth in the Yashin Trophy standings – the award given to the best goalkeeper in the world.

Ilkay Gundogan seemed to snub his Barcelona team-mates at the Ballon d’Or awards ceremony

As they posed together for a photo, Gundogan (front centre) appeared to walk off on his own 

However, as the quintet posed for a photo together on the red carpet, Gundogan seemed to just walk off on his own.

Balde looked shocked by his team-mates actions, before deciding against bringing him back. 

Gundogan walking off comes after he slammed his team-mates for their reaction to their 2-1 El Clasico defeat against Real Madrid.

The German midfielder had scored his first Barcelona goal to put them 1-0 up, before two Jude Bellingham strikes – including one in injury time – meant they suffered a painful loss.

Speaking post-match, Gundogan suggested that his Barcelona team-mates were not hurt enough by the defeat as 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.’

Barcelona have now dropped points in three of their last five league matches and are four points behind Real and LaLiga’s surprise package Girona.  

Gundogan’s post-match comments and photo snub come amid various reports he is unsettled at the club despite only joining in the summer.  

Those snubbed included left-back Alejandro Balde (left) and Marc-Andre Ter Stegen (right) 

The apparent snub comes after Gundogan criticised his team-mates after their El Clasico loss

For example, reports broke on Wednesday that Barcelona apologised to him and his wife Sara Arfaoui after making them feel ‘abandoned’ following their arrival. 

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

He expected to receive more help with things such as housing, transport, and care for his family and let his feelings be known as a result. 

However, reports in Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo suggest Gundogan’s decision to leave the team photo was because he was being taken off for a photo by the event organisers of him alone on the red carpet.

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