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Former Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has made his mark on and off the pitch with new club Galatasaray
Ilkay Gundogan has wasted no time in making his mark at Galatasaray after leaving Manchester City.
The German midfielder was keen on staying at the Etihad this season after triggering a one-year contract extension with the number of games he played in last year. However, with Pep Guardiola wanting to cut down his squad Gundogan did not play a single minute of the first three City games and sorted a move to Galatasaray in early September.
In Istanbul he has settled instantly, starting six of seven games for the Turkish giants and coming off the bench in the other one. He was in the XI that beat Liverpool in the Champions League a few weeks ago and he will be back at the Etihad in January for their last group game.
It isn't just on the pitch that Gundogan has stamped his authority. BILD report that the 34-year-old was so horrified to see a jar of Nutella in the Galatasaray canteen that he ordered it to be thrown out.
Gundogan has not had sugar in his diet for years and does not eat anything after 8pm in an effort to keep playing at the highest level for as long as he can. The midfielder was one of the players most used by Guardiola last season despite an injury crisis running through the squad and said in summer he believes he can keep going for years.
On leaving City, Gundogan wrote an open letter to supporters in the Manchester Evening News thanking them for their support and the club for agreeing to rip up his contract so that he could join Galtasaray without any problems.
"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," he said.
"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."
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