Manchester City, led by manager Pep Guardiola, are desperately looking to build a roster that will help them challenge for the Premier League and the Champions League crown.
They have made some statement signings in the January window and have followed it with another set of players this summer. So it is obvious that they will have to offload a few players.
In recent weeks, many of their players have been linked with a move out of Manchester, and Ilkay Gundogan has also been one of the names. Turkish heavyweights Galatasaray have shown interest in snapping up the German midfielder.
However, Gundogan has refuted any claims of leaving Manchester City following their 6-0 win over Al-Ain in the second group stage fixture at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, where he scored a brilliant brace.
“I have one more year left on my contract, and I’m very happy here – I think everybody knows that. I am enjoying my football. I still believe I have several years in me at the highest level by taking good care of myself. I’ve proven last season when I didn’t miss a game. I’m available, I’m fit, I want to play at the highest level for much longer," Gundogan told DAZN and other reporters following the Al-Ain win.
Gundogan is one of the most experienced players in Guardiola's setup, and while new players are exceptional, sometimes a team needs a senior player who can hold the roster together, and the German could exactly be that guy at City.
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Gundogan full of praise for Guardiola's new coaches
While City have made multiple signings to improve their roster this summer, they have also added some new coaches to Guardiola's backroom setup. Former Liverpool coaches Pep Lijnders and James Fench have also joined Guardiola's setup.
“The new people that have come in, especially our new set-piece coach, explain things in a very simple way that I quite like and I know other players also like very much," Gundogan appreciated the new coaches.
“We just try to get the patterns, connections between players. That’s not just set-pieces, that’s also for tactics, the way we play – one of the most important things – creating connections between players, anticipating timings, get to know each other as good as possible.
“Only if we’re connected as good as we can be, we can play amazing football, and we’ve done that in the past.
“It’s about winning that back and I think we’ve started really good in this competition. Now it’s about doing it in every single game better and better.”
The 34-year-old midfielder is extremely consistent and physically solid, as he featured in 51 appearances last season and scored three goals and will look to continue in the same manner in the ongoing Club World Cup tournament and the upcoming 2025/26 season.
Manchester City news and related links
- Pep Guardiola hails debutants following big Club World Cup win over Al-Ain
- Manchester City star's father breaks silence amid transfer speculation
- Pep Guardiola sets fresh plan to manage 'sad' Man City stars