Former Barça player and current Galatasaray captain MesutGündogan confirmed that his second season in Istanbul is focused on big games and that he has no plans to leave the club. In an interview with ScoreLens, the 34-year-old forward spoke about his experience at the Turkish club and the games that await him against his former team.
Gündogan recalled his time at Manchester City, where he was part of a squad with Rodri, GabrielJesús and EricGarcia, and highlighted Barça's individual quality, especially in attack. “The greatest strength of our team is the energy we generate, especially in front of our fans at the Camp Nou,” he said, underlining the importance of intensity and defensive compactness to compete against Barcelona.
The former player also clarified that the rumors of a possible transfer are false and that he wants to remain at Galatasaray beyond the winter to fight for another championship. Regarding Barça's 2023-24 season, Gündogan explained that the lack of titles was due to “small details” and bad luck at crucial moments, although the quality of the squad was present.
Regarding his next meeting with Barça, Gündogan showed enthusiasm for meeting former teammates like Rodri, Jesús and García. He commented that Rodri “reads the game before anyone else” and is “the anchor of any team,” while Jesús brings great energy and ability to uncheck to create opportunities.
The forward concluded that Barcelona continues to be the best team in Europe and that, with discipline and empathy, the club can continue competing at the highest level. His next match against Barça, scheduled for Tuesday the 21st, will be a turning point in his second season at Galatasaray.