After Erdogan photo, Germany captain Gundogan up for ‘special’ Turkey clash

(ALTERNATIVE CROP) This handout picture taken on May 13, 2018 and released on May 14, 2018 by the Turkish Presidential Press office shows Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan(R) posing for a photo with German footballers of Turkish origin Ilkay Gundogan (L) and Mesut Ozil (2nd L) in London. / AFP PHOTO / TURKISH PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE / KAYHAN OZER /

Five years after a photo with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sparked questions over his loyalty to Germany, Ilkay Gundogan will captain the national side during Saturday’s international friendly against Turkey in Berlin.

Gundogan, who has never faced Turkey despite making his Germany debut more than a decade ago, told AFP subsidiary SID “it will be a very special game for me — no question about it”.

Named by former Germany coach Hansi Flick in September, Gundogan, 33, is the first footballer of Turkish descent to captain the four-time world champions.

The Barcelona midfielder’s rise through the ranks of the German national team is all the more remarkable given the 2018 photo with Erdogan who Gundogan also handed a shirt written “with respect to my president”.

Along with then star midfielder Mesut Ozil, Gundogan had found himself in the middle of a political storm.

But while Ozil dramatically quit the team, Gundogan has quietly endured whistles and insults from the stands and has had to work his way back into favour.

The Barcelona midfielder was picked to replace injured goalkeeper Manuel Neuer as skipper but new coach Julian Nagelsmann has said Gundogan will remain captain for Euro 2024 on German soil, even if the 2014 World Cup winner returns.

Erdogan will be in Germany later Friday for talks with German leaders, but he is not expected to attend the friendly or meet