Ilkay Gündogan, the 33-year-old Barcelona midfielder, recently made the decision to retire from international football with Germany. This decision came after he captained his nation at the European Championship earlier this summer and scored 19 goals in 82 appearances for his country. Gündogan took to social media to announce his retirement, stating that he had been contemplating this decision for a few weeks and felt that it was time to end his national team career. He reflected on his 82 international matches for Germany with great pride, a number he never imagined reaching when he made his debut for the senior national team in 2011.
Gündogan mentioned feeling a certain tiredness in his body and mind even before the European Championship, which prompted him to reevaluate his future in international football. The demanding schedule from both club and national team matches played a role in his decision to retire. Despite stepping back from the national team, he expressed his continued support as a fan and voiced his hopes for Germany’s success in the upcoming competitions.
Gündogan’s retirement comes after Thomas Müller also announced his stepping back from international duty following Germany’s elimination in the Euro 2024 campaign. Both players played significant roles for the national team, and their absence will surely be felt in future competitions. The team will need to adjust and find new leaders to continue their success in international football.
While Gündogan made the decision to retire from international football, his club future remains uncertain. Barcelona is facing registration issues, and there were reports of Gündogan expressing a desire to leave the club before the end of the transfer market. Despite this, Barcelona manager Hansi Flick believes that Gündogan will stay with the club for the upcoming season. It will be interesting to see how the situation unfolds and whether Gündogan will remain at Barcelona or seek a move elsewhere.
Ilkay Gündogan’s retirement from international football marks the end of an era for the German national team. His contributions and leadership on the field will be missed, but he leaves behind a legacy to be proud of. As he closes this chapter in his career, all eyes will be on his future at Barcelona and how he will navigate the challenges that lie ahead.
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