Galatasaray Watches Gündoğan from City: Heading to Turkey?

Galatasaray Observes Gündoğan’s Situation at Manchester City

Galatasaray is closely monitoring İlkay Gündoğan’s situation at Manchester City, according to sources close to the club. The Turkish team would be willing to make an offer for the midfielder if he becomes available during the summer. Gündoğan has a contract with City until 2026, after an option for one year was activated at the end of last season. The 34-year-old player is part of Pep Guardiola’s squad in the United States for the FIFA Club World Cup. However, there is more competition for the midfielder positions after the arrival of Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan and the return of Rodri after an injury. Sources close to Galatasaray claim that the club’s directors are convinced that Gündoğan would prefer to join the Istanbul team if he decides he can leave the Etihad Stadium during the summer.

Ilkay Gündoğan will turn 35 in October. Galatasaray is also looking for a full-back and is interested in bringing Sacha Boey back from Bayern Munich. Gündoğan has strong ties to Turkey and would be open to playing there before his career ends. The former German international, who captained City when they won the treble in 2023, was not named in the leadership group last season after his return from Barcelona. Gündoğan has also not been included in the group of leaders for the new season, after Guardiola selected Bernardo Silva, Rúben Dias, Rodri and Erling Haaland. Gündoğan will turn 35 in October, but he has insisted that there is still a role for older players in top-level teams.

You need experienced players on the field. I know that when I was 18 or 19 years old, I admired those experienced players. Just by watching what they did and how they did it, I learned. They didn’t always have to say anything.

Ilkay Gündoğan

All young players need some experience around them. Sometimes you don’t have to work harder, but to work smarter.