Nedum Onuoha has said that he was laughed at for saying that Manchester City had signed a top player in Ilkay Gundogan.
The midfielder is about to finish his seventh season at the Etihad Stadium.
The Germany international’s future remains up in the air, with his contract expiring at the end of the season.
The likes of Arsenal and Barcelona have been linked. The Spanish giants are apparently huge fans of his and believe he’s a very underrated player.
Many City fans are hopeful the club will be able to tie him down.
This season, Gundogan has impressed once again for City. Especially in the second half of the season.
Gundogan hit back-to-back braces against Leeds United and Everton recently, which helped City secure a fifth Premier League title in six seasons.
Gundogan was signed by City for around £20 million in 2016. He was the first player to come in on Pep Guardiola’s watch.
He has proven to be a magnificent signing and has delivered several amazing moments for the club.
When he came in, there was a little bit of skepticism. Some weren’t absolutely blown away by the deal and some had concerns over his injury record.
And former City defender Onuoha has said that he was actually laughed at for saying Gundogan was a good player when the club bought him.
He said on the Let Me Talk podcast: “I don’t have many good takes. But I remember speaking with one of my friends about Gundogan saying that he was really, really good. And I was basically laughed out the room. He said ‘don’t be ridiculous’.”
Ilkay Gundogan has been one of Manchester City’s best post-takeover signings
Since the takeover of the club back in 2008, a lot of very good transfer deals have been done at the Etihad.
There are few deals better than Gundogan for £20 million though.
To have gotten seven seasons out of him and for him to have played such a vital role in the club’s dominance of the Premier League in recent times is just brilliant.
It is crazy now to think that the Gundogan signing was not backed by everyone.
Without doubt, he’s been one of the best additions the club have made. One wonders if Onuoha’s friend is feeling a little sheepish these days…
