2 days ago
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Ilkay Gundogan wanted to say his farewell to the Manchester City fans in the Manchester Evening News
Ilkay Gundogan has left Manchester City for the second time in three years. Having joined Barcelona in 2023 after captaining the Blues to the Treble, he returned on a free transfer last season and only five players featured more than him as he stood tall in an injury crisis.
Gundogan played enough to earn a contract extension and spoke on a number of occasions in the summer about his wish to stay at the club. However, he did not feature in the first three Premier League games and has sealed a free transfer to Galatasaray in the final weeks of the Turkish transfer window.
City's midfielder wanted to say goodbye to fans in his own words through the Manchester Evening News. Here is what he had to say as he takes on a new challenge in his career.
Dear Manchester City fans, dear teammates, dear employees of the club,
From the bottom of my heart I want to say thank you to all of you. Thank you for all these incredible years full of joy and Incredible success - and I’m sure in a few years when we look back we will even more realise what this generation of players have achieved for this great club. It’s time to pass on to the new generation and achieve even greater success!
Making this final step away from Manchester feels very hard, but I completely respect that the club wants to enter a new chapter. But on the other side I still feel very good and ready to play as many games as possible - that's why I decided to move on.
I get the opportunity to play again for a Champions League club – but not just any Champions League club – no, for my favourite club from childhood days!
Manchester City has always acted with incredible professionalism and ambition, and I will never forget what this club has done for me over all these years. Even now they stuck to our gentleman agreement and made the departure without any complications possible - this is not always given these days in football.
Looking back, most of my time here has been filled with joy, success, and unforgettable memories. Together, we’ve achieved things I’ll cherish forever and I’ll always be proud to have played my part in this journey.
The club, the fans, and the entire city of Manchester will forever hold a special place in my heart. Teammates have become very close friends and I’ve worked together with the best manager in the world.
I cannot express how much I’ve learned from Pep – things that I can hopefully also use after my active football career one day for my own coaching career. There could have not been a better teacher.
What I will definitely never forget was the game against Ipswich at the Etihad when I returned from Barcelona. The reception I received gave me goosebumps like never before. That was just incredible.
I will definitely continue to watch every Man City game as often as I can – hopefully the club can return soon again to the very top of the Premier League, because this is where this club belongs. They are having all the quality to achieve this again.
All the best, stay healthy and see you soon - at the very latest the end of January in the Champions League! And who knows - maybe even one more time after my active career!
Your Ilkay
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