Manchester City have waved goodbye to a lot of top players over the past few years.
During previous summer transfer windows, a wide range of names have left the Etihad Stadium either on permanent deals as free agents or for significant transfer fees.
Despite that, Pep Guardiola’s side have still managed to stay dominant in the Premier League, having now won six league trophies in the past seven years.
With another summer transfer window now open, the focus at the moment is on the 2024 European Championship, which has more City players in it than any other top-flight side in England.
In the middle of the second round of group games, one pundit and former City player has shared his dismay about one particular player’s exit from the Blues after seeing him in action for his country at the Euros.
Micah Richards admits he’s still gutted about Ilkay Gundogan’s Man City departure
After watching Germany beat Hungary 2-0 in their recent Euros match, Micah Richards had this to say in a recent edition of The Rest Is Football about Ilkay Gundogan and his departure from City.
He said: “I was so sad to see him leave Man City on a free as well. I actually think he’s better with a three [man midfield], and arriving into the box. He can do everything. He is a master.”
Gundogan was a top signing for City
Gundogan was Guardiola’s first signing at City, securing a £20m move for the midfielder back in the 2016 summer transfer window.
During his seven years at the Manchester club, the German scored 60 goals and delivered 38 assists in 304 appearances across all competitions.
In his final season at City before joining Barcelona as a free agent in the summer of 2023, Gundogan captained the Blues to their historic Treble, cementing himself as one of the most significant players of the Guardiola era.
Richards isn’t the only person connected to City to praise the former Blues captain after his latest international display, as Jack Grealish shared an Instagram story saying that Gundogan is one of the best players he’s ever shared the pitch with.
With that in mind, it’s understandable why Richards is still sad that Gundogan decided to leave City last summer rather than sign a new deal with the Blues.