Ilkay Gundogan makes honest admission over future support for Manchester City | OneFootball

Former Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has made an honest admission over his future support for the Etihad Stadium club having left the side in the summer.

Gundogan remains one of the most influential figures in City’s modern era, having twice represented the club during Pep Guardiola’s tenure, departing the club earlier this year to join Galatasaray and ending a one-year return following a brief spell at FC Barcelona.

His connection to Manchester City runs far deeper than his playing career having become Guardiola’s first signing in the summer of 2016, and going on to establish himself as a pillar of the Catalan’s midfield – helping to define a tactical identity through leadership, consistency, and an ability to rise to big occasions.

Over the course of 358 appearances, Ilkay Gundogan registered 65 goals and lifted 14 major trophies, including captaining the side to their historic 2022/23 Treble. Even after bringing that glittering chapter to an end, Gundogan has repeatedly expressed how Manchester and its people have become part of his life beyond football.

His family, including his young children, spent years in the city, while his affection for the club’s supporters has been on full display through emotional interviews and farewell letters since his summer departure.

Speaking during a new podcast appearance with The Athletic’s Jordan Campbell, Gundogan has been keen to emphasise his continued and long-standing support for City even in light of joining Galatasaray during the summer market.

“Just a sign of gratitude, you know, and appreciation for eachother. We always had a great relationship and we always will have a great relationship,” Gundogan said of his final conversations with manager Pep Guardiola after leaving the club.

“Obviously, in football, always circumstances change and things evolve in different ways, and I think we’re both smart enough to kind of see that and accept that,” he continued. “So there was nothing negative, everything was on a very respectful, high level conversation between friends, at the end of the day.

“And not just with Pep [Guardiola], I have to say, even with the chairman [Khaldoon Al Mubarak], or Ferran Soriano [CEO] – I had conversations with all of them. I have an incredible connection to the people of Man City and this will always be the case.”

Gundogan added, “And obviously I will always follow them, you know, as a fan and as a supporter as well, and that’s why the respect is still immense for eachother.”

The midfielder’s comments continue a series of reflections that point toward a deep and enduring bond. Recently, Gundogan spoke openly about his coaching ambitions and revealed he had held serious talks with Pep Guardiola regarding a possible assistant role in the future.

That revelation, paired with this new show of affection for the club, has reignited speculation that the 34-year-old could one day return to Manchester in a non-playing capacity. Club officials are rumoured to be open to welcoming him back into the fold when he decides to hang up his boots, potentially as part of City’s evolving coaching structure.

For now, Ilkay Gundogan’s focus remains firmly on Galatasaray, where he competes in the Champions League and Super Lig. But his latest admission makes one thing abundantly clear that no matter where his career takes him next, City will always have his unwavering support.