'Back together' - Leroy Sane sends heartfelt message to Ilkay Gundogan as Man City exit confirmed
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Credit: Imago
Oliver Walton
Tue 2 September 2025 20:44, UK
Leroy Sane has sent a message to Ilkay Gundogan with the pair set to be teammates again after the Germany midfielder left Man City to join Galatasaray.
Ilkay Gundogan is a hero at Man City for his impressive exploits at the club between 2016 and 2023, as he was a part of their side which won a number of trophies including five Premier League titles, two FA Cups and the Champions League.
The Germany international left the Citizens to join Barcelona two years ago, but he returned last summer after just one season away to provide a back-up option for Pep Guardiola in the middle of the park.
He struggled to make an impact at the Etihad Stadium last term as Guardiola’s side saw their dominance of English football come to a sudden end, and former scout Mick Brown told Football Insider in June that Galatasaray were plotting a move for Gundogan with City weighing up whether to allow him to depart.
The 34-year-old still had one year left on his Citizens contract, but Brown told Football Insider on Thursday (28 August) that Man City were open to letting Gundogan leave late in the window, and his departure has now been confirmed.
(Credit Imago)
City confirmed Gundogan’s exit on Tuesday (2 September) with a post to their official X account, saying: “Ilkay Gundogan has joined Galatasaray on a permanent deal, subject to international clearance.
Thank you, (Ilkay Gundogan),” with a blue heart emoji.
Prior to his departure being confirmed, former Citizens winger Leroy Sane took to his Instagram story to send a heartfelt message to Gundogan, whom he played with at the Etihad Stadium between 2016 and 2020, saying: “Welcome to (Galatasaray) Abi!
Back together (Ilkay Gundogan)” with lion and handshake emojis alongside an edited picture of the pair in Galatasaray shirts.
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Sane moved to the Turkish giants from Bayern Munich earlier this summer, and he and Gundogan shared the pitch 76 times for City in four years, while they have played together 43 times at international level for Germany.
Football Insider verdict
There was once a time when Gundogan was one of the first names on Guardiola’s teamsheet, but the older he has got, the less influential he has been on his side on the pitch.
The 34-year-old made 54 appearances last season, which is an impressive amount of games played at his age considering the level of opponent, but his shortcomings were on show for all to see as City desperately missed Rodri in the middle of the park.
AppearancesGoalsAssists3586547Gundogan’s Man City career stats
Gundogan was certainly not at fault for the club’s downfall in 2024/25, but they definitely had to rely on him a lot more than initially expected, and Guardiola has made sure that was not set to happen this term by signing Tijjani Reijnders.
While he struggled to make an impact on the pitch, what City will likely miss going forward is Gundogan’s wealth of experience and knowhow off it, and his exit represents the end of an era given that he was Guardiola’s first signing at the club nine years ago.