Galatasaray manager shuts down idea of signing Manchester City star this summer | OneFootball

Manchester City fans should expect to see Ilkay Gundogan continue in their midfield for the forthcoming campaign, according to Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk.

Despite recent speculation linking the 34-year-old midfielder with a potential move to the Turkish champions, Gundogan looks increasingly likely to remain a Manchester City player for the duration of the 2025/26 season.

The veteran midfielder saw his deal automatically extend by one-year earlier this summer due to a number of appearances registered last season, having initially only re-joined the club last summer from Barcelona on a 12-month agreement.

His return to the Etihad Stadium was seen as both a stabilising move for Pep Guardiola’s evolving midfield and a sentimental reunion with one of the defining figures of his Manchester City era.

Even amid rising competition from the arrivals of Nico Gonzalez in January and the integration of James McAtee into the first-team last summer, the club value Gundogan’s experience and leadership as they enter a transitional phase.

While the presence of Galatasaray in the conversation added an intriguing dynamic – with the Istanbul-based club targeting ambitious reinforcements to build on their domestic success – City have never actively looked to move Gundogan on.

Instead, their strategy has remained one of gradual integration between seasoned leaders and a younger generation of midfield talent, and that is a sense that has been transmitted over to the Turkish giants.

Speaking during an interview with Sky.de, Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk has played down claims linking his side with a move for Ilkay Gundogan, believing that the former Germany international will see out his final year of contract.

The Turkish Super Lig champions’ head coach went on to say that the former Borussia Dortmund star is a player he admires and that the 34-year-old himself has an emotional connection with the Istanbul side.

“İlkay Gündoğan is a person with character,” Buruk said, as translated and relayed by Sport Witness. “He has a contract with Manchester City for another year, and I think he will complete it there.”

Buruk continued, “We love Ilkay very much, we know that he has a great love for Galatasaray.”

Buruk’s words all but confirm that while there may have been interest on Galatasaray’s part – and mutual affection from Gundogan – no formal approach is expected to materialise this summer.

The door does seemingly remain open for a potential move in 2026, when the midfielder will become a free agent and have greater freedom to choose his next steps. For City, the decision to retain Gundogan adds to the growing clarity around their midfield plans.

With uncertainty still surrounding Mateo Kovacic’s fitness and the long-term role of Matheus Nunes, Pep Guardiola may lean on Ilkay Gundogan’s presence for structure and balance at various points of the forthcoming season.

Should City’s fresh, new midfielders make significant progress, Gundogan’s role could naturally evolve into a more rotational one. But for now, it appears the 2025/26 season will serve as a farewell tour of sorts for a player who has helped shape the club’s modern identity.