Gundogan Frustrated by Lack of Playtime at Galatasaray
Veteran midfielder questions his readiness for upcoming matches due to minimal game time.
Ilkay Gundogan, a former Manchester City star, has expressed frustration over his lack of playing time at Galatasaray, questioning his readiness for upcoming matches. The 35-year-old midfielder has featured for only 11 minutes across Galatasaray's eight matches this season, appearing briefly in the opening league game and once in the Champions League. He has been an unused substitute in the team's last six league fixtures.
When approached by a reporter after a recent match, Gundogan was asked about his readiness to face his former club Barcelona in the Champions League. He responded, "I'm not playing – so why should I be ready?"
Gundogan's limited role comes after he played a significant part in Galatasaray's Turkish Super Lig title win during his debut campaign last season, making 38 appearances in all competitions.
Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk has recently opted for Lucas Torreira and Gabriel Sara in midfield over Gundogan. Another former Manchester City player, Leroy Sane, has also seen limited starts, coming off the bench in four of Galatasaray's seven league games.
Gundogan joined Galatasaray after two successful spells at Manchester City, where he captained the team during their 2022-23 treble-winning season, securing the Champions League, Premier League, and FA Cup. During his tenure at City, he won five Premier League titles, two FA Cups, and four League Cups.
Prior to his time at Manchester City, Gundogan also had a season with Barcelona, making 51 appearances for the Catalan club. Galatasaray is currently two points clear at the top of the Turkish Super Lig and is scheduled to host Barcelona in their second Champions League match of the season on Tuesday.