- Nagelsmann pays tribute to Gündogan following his withdrawal from the DFB squad
Germany's national team coach Julian Nagelsmann has lauded Ilkay Gündogan as an "exceptional leader" post his departure from the German football squad. "I'm incredibly fond of having İlkay as our captain. He frequently stood out himself, but more frequently, he helped others shine in the national team. His refined technique will be sorely missed, his smart ideas," Nagelsmann expressed in a statement from the German Football Association (DFB). Nagelsmann underlined that he would have cherished to carry on collaborating with Gündogan but acknowledges his choice.
Gündogan, currently a player for FC Barcelona, is hanging up his boots for the German national team following a missed opportunity at the home European Championship. Gündogan is surprisingly concluding his international career at the age of 33 and after 82 appearances for Germany.
"For me and for us, he was a significant connection, interactions with him were enlightening, even on topics unrelated to football. He's an insightful, contemplative, and extremely compassionate person," Nagelsmann (37) commended his former captain. Gündogan delivered a "stellar performance at the Euro for football Germany and his intelligence has always captivated and motivated me, just as his control over the ball, his ingenious and precise passes."
Nagelsmann expressed regret about Gündogan's decision to resign from the German national team, stating, "His departure will leave a void in both our football and personal interactions." Furthermore, Gündogan's intelligent plays and compassionate nature were highly appreciated by Nagelsmann, making his departure all the more significant.
