The wife of Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has rubbished claims that the German recently held talks with Real Madrid over a potential summer transfer.
Earlier this week, Gundogan was reportedly pictured heading to Madrid on a private plane from Manchester earlier this week following claims that City were looking to sell him at the end of the season, with his contract at the Etihad Stadium due to expire at the end of next season.
However, Gundogan’s partner Sara Benamira was quick to rubbish those claims on her Instagram account and has instead announced that the couple recently got married.
"We are married. We are really happy… can’t wait to celebrate with our families and friends. Gundos," read the joint Instagram post.
That was said to be an updated post, with GOAL reporting that Benamira edited the post. The original version reportedly read: "We are married. We are really happy… we wanted to keep it private but unfortunately after this fake news about my husband I felt forced to say the truth.”
Benamira also posted an Instagram story that showed a photo of her and Gundogan in direct response to the recent rumours linking the 31-year-old German with a summer switch to Real Madrid, who take on Liverpool in the Champions League final later this month in Paris. "Never been in Madrid,” Benamira posted. “Sometimes private reason is just not football."
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Gundogan was Pep Guardiola’s first signing at City when the Spaniard took the reins of the club from Manuel Pellegrini in 2016. Since Gundogan’s move to the Etihad Stadium from Borussia Dortmund, Gundogan has scored 34 goals in 156 Premier League games, with the midfielder notching up 252 appearances in all competitions.
In that time, Gundogan has helped the Sky Blues to win three Premier League tables, one FA Cup, four Carabao Cups and two Community Shields. He was also part of the side that reached the final of last season’s Champions League, as well as the semi-finals of this season’s competition.
While Gundogan is set to stay, City have completed the signing of striker Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund this month, with the Norwegian set to sign for a fee of £51.2m.
Speaking on the signing of Haaland, Guardiola told Sky Sports : "It is a decision for the club to make a good sign for the future. He can come for many, many years hopefully and I am pretty sure he will adapt perfectly to our team but for next season.
“I'm excited in my job but of course, the players make you a good manager. "He is an incredible young talent, perfect age. I am pretty sure we are going to help him settle as best possible.”
Since signing for Dortmund in January 2020, Haaland has scored 86 goals in 89 appearances in all competitions. Of the 86, 62 have been in the Bundesliga, with another 15 goals coming in the Champions League.
