The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ilkay Gundogan

  • Galatasaray sign Man City’s Gundogan

    Galatasaray sign Man City’s Gundogan

    Galatasaray have signed experienced German midfielder Ilkay Gundogan from Manchester City on a free transfer.

    The 34-year-old has agreed a deal until the end of the 2026-27 season with the Turkish champions.

    Gundogan had a year left on his City contract but was allowed to leave with the Turkish transfer window open until 12 September.

    “Manchester City will always hold a special place in my heart,” said Gundogan, who played 358 games for City, scoring 65 goals. “We have enjoyed so much success in our time together and there have been so many unforgettable moments, not least being captain for the Treble-winning season.”

    “To win the Premier League and FA Cup trophies meant so much to me, but to then be afforded the opportunity of lifting the Champions League trophy for this club for the first time, especially in Istanbul, will live with me forever.

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    “I have no doubts Manchester City will enjoy much more success in the future and I will certainly be watching on from afar as I continue my career in Turkey, a country that means ever such a lot to me.”

    Gundogan was Pep Guardiola’s first signing for City in 2016 and spent seven years there before he joined Barcelona on a free transfer in 2023.

    He re-joined City in August 2024 and made 33 appearances in the Premier League last season as Guardiola’s side finished third.

    Gundogan, who was born in the German city of Gelsenkirchen to Turkish parents, won the Premier League five times at City as well as the Champions League in 2022-23.

    He previously played for Bochum, Nuremberg and Borussia Dortmund.

    “Ilkay Gundogan is a name synonymous with success at Manchester City,” said City director of football Hugo Viana.

    “We will never forget his legacy here.”

  • Gundogan hints on end of season Man City Exit

     

    Ilkay Gundogan revealed talks over a new contract will resume at the end of the season, with his Manchester City future in doubt.

    The midfielder’s deal only runs until 2020 and Pep Guardiola has urged him to pen fresh terms.

    Gundogan is keeping his options open and could leave the Etihad Stadium. City may have a decision on whether or not to cash in on him this summer

    ‘There is no decision yet otherwise I would’ve signed,’ Gundogan said. ‘I’d say we are still in talks but I don’t feel much pressure.

    ‘After the season we’ll talk again. My main target at the moment is going for all four competitions.

    ‘Playing under Pep is the main thing now. One day we’ll need to make a decision.’

    The 28-year-old has suggested he may look for a new challenge in another country ahead. Gundogan had only played in Germany until joining City in 2016.

    ‘This is something you decide for yourself,’ he added. ‘My next contract will decide where I’ll maybe finish my career.

    ‘Everyone feels different; maybe they have an inner feeling to go for a new challenge. I’m always open-minded for challenges.

    ‘It’s a personal situation. It’s not obvious, you have to make their own decision and I try to play as well as possible.

    ‘In modern football, especially if you have ambitions, you have to prove that you have to play under these demands, this number of games and the intensity. ‘There is not a huge difference between here and somewhere else.’

  • Sane misses out, Neuer makes Germany World Cup squad

    Leroy Sane was a surprise omission from Joachim Loew’s final Germany squad for the World Cup finals on Monday as goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was named among the 23 players heading to Russia.

    Neuer made the squad despite playing in just one official game, a friendly against Austria on Friday, since breaking a bone in his foot in September but talented 22-year-old Sane was the biggest name to miss out.

    The Manchester City midfielder, goalkeeper Bernd Leno, forward Nils Petersen and defender Jonathan Tah were the four players that failed to make the cut.

    Germany captain Neuer, who won the World Cup four years ago, will also be their first choice keeper for the tournament, ahead of designated number two Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Kevin Trapp.

    Loew announced his squad at the end of a training camp at the Italian Alps.

    The Germans play their last warm-up game against Saudi Arabia in Leverkusen on Friday before the start of the tournament on June 14.

    Germany is in Group F along with Sweden, Mexico and South Korea.

    Squad: Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona), Kevin Trapp (Paris St Germain).

    Defenders: Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Matthias Ginter (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Jonas Hector (Cologne), Mats Hummels (Bayern Munich), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Marvin Plattenhardt (Hertha Berlin), Antonio Ruediger (Chelsea), Niklas Suele (Bayern Munich).

    Midfielders: Julian Brandt (Bayer Leverkusen), Julian Draxler (Paris St Germain), Leon Goretzka (Schalke 04), Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City), Sami Khedira (Juventus), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Thomas Mueller (Bayern Munich), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Sebastian Rudy (Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal).

  • City better prepared to foil Liverpool trio, Gundogan

    Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan believes they are better prepared to cope with Liverpool’s attacking trio in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals at Anfield on Wednesday.

    City’s 4-3 defeat at Liverpool in January was their only loss against an English Premier League (EPL) side this season.

    It came courtesy three goals in nine second-half minutes from Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, who have combined to score 75 goals in all competitions for Liverpool this season.

    “There’s a lot of respect, because all three have scored plenty of goals and they’ve also set up many more,” Gundogan told British media.

    “Liverpool are still the only team that’s been capable of beating us in the Premier League. But we’re aware why this happened, although we performed pretty well that day.

    “Obviously, going back to Anfield for the first-leg game is a great motivation for us.

    “We’d like to get a great result in the first leg and then dominate the game in the second leg, in front of our fans.

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    ” That’s what we want to do and, if we achieve that, then I’m sure we’ll make it into the next round.”

    Gundogan spent four years playing under Liverpool boss Juergen Klopp who managed Borussia Dortmund before moving to England.

    It was a period with the German club winning the Bundesliga title, German Cup as well as reaching the 2013 Champions League final.

    “Juergen is a terrific coach and he’s capable of motivating his team ahead of every game.

    “And he’s proving all that again with Liverpool – their attack is incredibly strong. So they aren’t an easy team to beat but we need to do so,” Gundogan added.

    City could wrap up the EPL title with a win over local rivals Manchester United on Saturday before facing Liverpool in the second leg at the Etihad Stadium three days later.

    NAN

  • Man City announce shirt sleeve sponsor

    Man City announce shirt sleeve sponsor

     

    Manchester City have made history by becoming the first Premier League team to announce a shirt sleeve sponsor.

    A rule change coming into force next season will allow clubs to have a secondary sponsor on their sleeves.

    And on Friday City revealed their partnership with Nexen Tire, a tyre manufacturer from South Korea.

    Manager Pep Guardiola was on hand to unveil the new deal, which will see the company’s name feature on the City kit from next summer.

    He was joined by injured pair Ilkay Gundogan and Gabriel Jesus, who modelled shirts with the logo on them.

    England women’s international Jill Scott was also at the unveiling representing City’s women’s team.

    Next year will be the first time Premier League clubs are allowed to advertise on their sleeves, and several teams are expected to take the opportunity.

    However there are at least two top-flight clubs who will not be able to participate in the deal for next season, due to current deals with main sponsors banning the appearance of a secondary brand on the kit.

    City have not disclosed the financial deal behind the sponsorship, but the space is valued at around a fifth of that of a main kit sponsor. Clubs like Manchester United, who receive £47million-a-year from Chevrolet to be on their shirts, could see a further £10m invested in the club.

    City have listed Nexen Tire as their official tyre manufacturer since 2015, but this is the first time their name will appear on the club’s shirts.

    ‘We are delighted to continue our successful partnership with Nexen Tire,’ said City Chief Executive Ferran Soriano.

  • Leroy Sane completes Manchester City switch

    Leroy Sane completes Manchester City switch

    Manchester City has confirmed the signing of Schalke winger, Leroy Sane, with the Germany international signing a five-year deal at the Etihad Stadium.

    Sane has been linked with a number of clubs throughout the summer but has opted to move to the Etihad Stadium, the Premier League club parting with a reported £37 million to secure the signature of the 20-year-old.

    Sane, who came through the youth ranks at Schalke, made 57 senior appearances for the club, scoring 13 goals, and was named in Germany’s squad for Euro 2016.

    And the young attacker has now revealed that he cannot wait to begin work under Pep Guardiola as the Premier League season draws near.

    “I feel really good, I’m happy to be here and happy that it has all worked out. Now I can settle here in Manchester and play for City,” Goal quoted the Germany international as saying on Tuesday.

    “One of the reasons I decided to join City was Pep Guardiola; he convinced me to come here and that I can continue to progress. I know I will learn a lot under him and now I can take the next step in my career.

    “I followed Pep at Barcelona and at Bayern where he achieved a lot and worked really well with young players.”

     

  • GUNDOGAN STILL TOP OF BARCA WISH-LIST

    GUNDOGAN STILL TOP OF BARCA WISH-LIST

    BARCELONA still have concerns over the long-term fitness of Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, who remains a target for Premier League champions Manchester United, despite conducting a medical examination of the Germany international last week.

    Dr Richard Pruna, Barcelona’s club doctor, is believed to have monitored Gundogan’s progress during a private meeting with the player in Germany. The Dortmund star, who played a key role in the club’s run to last season’s Champions League final, has not played since August after suffering a mysterious back injury.

    But even though concerns still persist over Gundogan’s back problem, Barcelona have not given up hope of signing the classy central midfielder as a long-term replacement for Xavi this summer, according to Mundo Deportivo.