Manchester City star linked with a surprise move to Serie A giants in 2025: Reports
Ilkay Gundogan is reportedly on Inter Milan's shortlist amid an expectation he'll leave Manchester City at the end of the season. The veteran German midfielder made a surprise return to the Etihad in the summer.
Fichajes.net reports that Gundogan, 34, is likely to leave Manchester City for the second time in a year when his contract expires next June. Inter is a potential destination with the Nerazzurri looking to strengthen their midfield.
Inter feel Gundogan has the profile that would help improve Simone Inzaghi's midfield. He boasts years of experience at the top level, winning five Premier League titles.
The former Borussia Dortmund man is enduring a topsy-turvy second spell at the Etihad. He's appeared 22 times across competitions, posting two goals and one assist.
Pep Guardiola is set to oversee an overhaul of an aging Manchester City squad who have faltered this season. They have encountered the worst run in Guardiola's managerial career, and doubts are growing over players such as Gundogan.
There is an obstacle in Inter's way as Gundogan's high wages could be problematic. They could move Hakan Calhanoglu on to make room for the German, who spent last season at Barcelona in La Liga.
Ilkay Gundogan said Manchester City players need to 'question themselves'
Manchester City's recent struggles have been remarkable, as they have won just one of their last one of their last 11 games across competitions. A 2-1 loss to Manchester United in the derby (December 15) was a complete collapse that was unbecoming of Guardiola's reigning champions.
Guardiola's troops had fallen to a 2-0 defeat to Juventus in the UEFA Champions League midweek. Gundogan questioned City's mentality after that defeat (via The Daily Mail):
"I feel like we know exactly what is going wrong and the reasons, and still if you look at the most part of the games, we don't play bad, (we play) quite good football, we just miss to score and it is not that easy to come back it is so obvious what is going wrong but it is trying to find the switch."
He added:
"Every single player individually has to question themselves and how they can sacrifice more to contribute."
Gundogan is one of several City players who are now in their thirties, and there's a feeling that a rebuild is on the horizon. They are trying to overcome a difficult period they have been unused to during the club's glory days.