Man City manager Guardiola wants midfielder to stay despite rumours of exit
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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has insisted that he wants midfielder Ilkay Gundogan to stay put amid speculation that the German may leave the club this summer.
The ex-Borussia Dortmund man had been heavily linked with a move away from the club this summer having seen a decrease in his playing time, however Guardiola has now made it clear that he does see the player’s future at the club.
As per Goal, the Spaniard has rubbished rumours of an exit, and has also hit out at outlets reporting the false stories.
The Germany international was seen boarding a private jet bound for Madrid last week, which sparked rumours that he was close to joining Real Madrid.
It appears, though, that the midfielder was actually getting married.
“He’s getting married, congrats for that,” Guardiola told reporters.
City boss Guardiola has denied rumours that Gundogan will leave the club this summer
“He had permission to go, I congratulate him.
“I want him here next season, there’s no intention for him not to be here.
“Now he’s married, he might want a new experience.
“All the great Twitter accounts say he’s going to leave but I didn’t know it. That’s the situation right now.”
Gundogan’s playing time has decreased slightly in recent months, and he has started just 20 of City’s 37 league games so far this term.
The midfielder’s current contract is set to expire next summer, and it had been widely reported that he had been told he could leave this summer.
Guardiola has rubbished the rumours though, and it now appears that he will stay put in Manchester beyond this summer.
The 31-year-old is the most successful German in the history of the Premier League, though, having won four league titles and scored 34 goals.