Gundogan quits German national football team, amid attacks on his Turkish origin

Ilkay Gundogan, who has faced objections to his captaincy due to his Turkish heritage, has announced his departure from the German national football team. The 33-year-old, who plays for Barcelona and has been rumored to be leaving the team, revealed his decision to retire from international football via Instagram.

In his statement, Gundogan said, “After some thought, I decided that it is time to end my national team career. When I first wore the national team jersey in 2011, I could never have imagined reaching 82 caps.”

Gundogan highlighted that leading the team as captain during last summer’s European Championship in Germany was the greatest honor of his career. Despite being a key player throughout the tournament, where Germany was eliminated by Spain in the quarter-finals, Gundogan expressed feeling both physically and mentally exhausted. This sense of fatigue prompted him to reconsider his future. He acknowledged that it was difficult to make this decision after a successful tenure with the national team but felt it was the right time.

Since making his debut in 2011, Gundogan has earned 82 caps for the German national team.

17% of Germans disapproved of Turkish-origin as captain

In Germany, where far-right sentiments have been rising, past surveys have shown that one in five respondents wished to see more “white players” in the national team, with 17% finding it “disappointing” that captain Ilkay Gundogan has Turkish roots.

Gundogan’s decision to retire has also increased speculation about his future at Barcelona. Spanish media reports suggest offers from the Premier League, Türkiye, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, with former club Manchester City being a notable name in transfer rumors.

Barcelona signed Gundogan for the 2023-24 season with a 2+1 year contract.

Last season, Gundogan played 51 matches for Barcelona, accumulating 4,180 minutes on the pitch, scoring 5 goals, and providing 14 assists.