Jude Bellingham has expressed his amazement at the talent of Ilkay Gundogan – who left Manchester City in 2023.
The 20-year-old was quoted by talkSPORT.
So, what did Jude Bellingham say about Ilkay Gundogan? Let’s take a look…
What Bellingham said about Gundogan
Well, the Real Madrid No.5 seems to find football easy – in just 23 appearances for the Spanish giants, he has remarkably scored 17 goals while also providing five assists.
However, Bellingham – who is apparently trying to lure Erling Haaland to Real Madrid – admits he found life very difficult when up against Gundogan in midfield.
The England international said: “I will never forget facing Gundogan. We played them away and he was really good. We played him at home and he played more like a six (deep lying midfielder). Honestly, I couldn’t get anywhere near him.
“The amount of times I went to press him thinking that he weren’t looking, like I could nick it off him, then he was just gone on one touch, he was so smart. It was the first time I thought, oh my god, I can’t get near him, I can’t touch him.”
Gundogan departed the Etihad Stadium for Barcelona back in June 2023 when his contract expired, after spending seven years at Manchester City.
How Gundogan is faring after Manchester City exit
It has not been the greatest start to life at Barcelona for Gundogan, with the Spanish giants currently sat third in La Liga behind Real Madrid and the City Football Group’s very own Girona.
However, the German has still performed well individually.
Gundogan has scored three goals while also providing seven assists in 27 appearances for Barcelona, netting a crucial 93rd minute winner against Las Palmas in Barcelona’s last La Liga outing.
Interestingly, there are whispers that the 33-year-old actually left Manchester City quite frustrated with his decision to depart in the summer, according to the Daily Mail.
Nevertheless, Gundogan was able to leave on a high after captaining the Citizens to a historic treble, so you can understand why he chose to go when he did.
