Farewell Gündoğan.. And Thank You.

To İlkay Gündoğan:

As the dust settles on our incredible season and your recently announced transfer, I’m sure every City fan is feeling some variation of what I’m feeling now. Gratitude, nostalgia, sadness.. overwhelming pride. What else can be said about you that hasn’t been said already? Seven years of consistent excellence, unforgettable moments, and a legacy that won’t be so easily matched. The greatest German player to grace the Premier League, the maestro behind some of the biggest moments in our club’s history. Did you even think this would be the way you’d see your City career come to a close? 

When you came here from Germany as Pep’s first signing at City, injured and brimming with potential, I had the highest of hopes. But I never in my wildest dreams thought that you’d thrive the way you have. Our other midfielders seemed to regularly grace the headlines but you were always there, quietly putting in top performances and never complaining about your role. You carried us in Yaya Touré-esque fashion with your goals one season. Stepped us as a leader when our old guard eventually moved on. When we needed you the most, you delivered. Time and time again. But as much as the incredible player you are on the pitch, it’s as much who you are as a person off the pitch that makes me so proud and thankful to have had you as the Captain of our club during a season that immortalized this team as one of the greatest club sides in the history of football. 

Barcelona has to be thrilled to have you joining their club and rightfully so. I doubt they understand the sheer magnitude of person and professional that they’ve managed to bring to their club. But rest assured, we all know. And we will never forget. 

𝒞𝒶𝓅𝓉𝒶𝒾𝓃. 𝐿𝑒𝒶𝒹𝑒𝓇. 

𝓜𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓱𝓮𝓼𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓒𝓲𝓽𝔂 𝓛𝓮𝓰𝓮𝓷𝓭. 

Thank you Captain.  

From the bottom of all our hearts, thank you. 

Once a blue, always a blue. 

- Sheikh (From Twitter, not the real one)