Gundogan wants to keep playing for Germany

BERLIN: Ilkay Gundogan has said he wants to keep playing for Germany and not follow Mesut Ozil into retirement, despite the furore over their controversial pre-world Cup meeting with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

“Winning the Champions League and at least a title with the national side,” the Manchester City midfielder wrote on Instagram when asked by a fan about his dreams for the future.

Gundogan, 27, joins Toni Kroos, 28, and Sami Khedira, 31, in declaring a desire to keep playing for the national team and make amends for Germany’s disastrous early World Cup exit last month.

On the eve of the tournament, Gundogan and Ozil, who were both born in Germany to Turkish parents, found themselves at the centre of a political storm after meeting Erdogan in London.

The Premier League stars posed for pictures with the Turkish leader in May, ahead of his successful reelection campaign, and Gundogan presented Erdogan with a Manchester City signed “to my president”.

The meeting raised questions about the pair’s loyalty to Germany and sparked fierce debate on the eve of the World Cup about integration in Germany.

While Ozil initially stayed silent on the topic, Gundogan said the meeting with Erdogan was not politically motivated, but the pair were booed by Germany fans in pre-world Cup friendlies.