Monday, 24th November, 2014
Ilkay Gundogan has revealed that Borussia Dortmund once rejected a bid for him by Real Madrid, while also putting his English suitors on alert with an admission about wanting to play in the Premier League.
The 24-year-old rose to fame for his impressive displays in the 2012/13 campaign, when BVB finished runners-up in both the Bundesliga and the Champions League.
The Germany international’s progress was then severely hampered with a back injury, which forced him to be sidelined for over a year.
And Gundogan, who feels the injury was a major stumbling block for his move to Real Madrid, is now focused on regaining his previous form which made him one of the hottest properties in Europe and saw him linked with several clubs, including Manchester United.
The midfielder further revealed his intention of plying his trade in the Premier League or La Liga in the future.
relatedNewsStory
"Real Madrid made an offer for me but my club rejected it”, he told Turkish TV's TRT1 Stadyum.
“At that time I still had two more seasons left on my contract. But also, my injury wrecked it all. I wasn't able to play for 14 months.
"Now I want to look towards the future and make up for lost time with sporting success.
“Playing abroad has always been one of my main objectives. If I do leave here one day, I'd like to play in Spain or England."
Gundogan, whose present contract with Dortmund runs until the summer of 2016, has thus far made five appearances in all competitions for the German giants this season.
Don't bet on football until you've visited Inside Bet! Interesting markets, top tips, betting facts – get all the info before you bet.
