German midfielder IlkayGündoğan arrived at Galatasaray in the summer of 2025 after a season at ManchesterCity and a previous one at Barcelona. Now, in his second year in Turkey, he has met several former teammates, including Rodri, at RAMSPark, where he is preparing to make his contribution to the Istanbul club.
During an interview with *Mundo Deportivo*, Gündoğan expressed his enthusiasm for the city and the support of the fans: "Istanbul is a wonderful place to live and the support of our fans is always impressive." He also underlined that each season presents a different pace and challenges, but that at the moment the focus is exclusively on the big matches on the programme.
On his return against Barcelona, Gündoğan said he did not feel anxious but felt a special feeling: "Seeing so many familiar faces in the opposing team, players with whom I shared the dressing room and great memories, generates a lot of emotion." He added that, once on the pitch, he will be completely focused on the match and that the time of seeing old friends before and after the match will be fantastic.
Galatasaray have consolidated their squad in recent years with the signing of talents such as VictorOsimhen and RafaLeão, as well as LeroySané and Gündoğan himself. The German midfielder is convinced that the team has the power needed to compete in the Champions League. "We have great individual quality in our squad, especially in attack. But our greatest strength is the energy and drive we manage to generate, especially in front of our fans at RAMSPark," he explained. “When we stay compact in defense and bring that emotional intensity to the pitch, we can put any team in the world in trouble.”
With the aim of regaining a strong voice in Europe, Galatasaray aims to transmit this energy also in continental tournaments. The next step for the club is to face the challenges of the Champions League with the same determination that has characterized its recent acquisitions, while Gündoğan continues to consolidate his central role in the Turkish team.