The German international has been heavily influenced by family members, especially his mother, two grandmothers and his wife, who is expecting their first child in the coming weeks.
“My mum, my two grandmothers and my wife,” said Gundogan when asked who the women were who have most shaped him.
“These are the people I’ve spent most of my life with, especially my two grandmothers when I was growing up.
“Unfortunately, one passed away a few years ago. And obviously my mum, she was very important to me, my school education, and my footballing education.
“She was behind my brother and myself all of the time. Without her, I wouldn’t be standing here right now.
“Both my mum and dad educated my brother and myself.
They tried to give us the right values in life, to be a good person first of all. We believe in our family that everything you give, you get back one day.
“This is how my parents raised my brother and myself. I’d like to think I’m quite a decent human being and that’s thanks to my mum.
Because I believe that women are maybe the most precious thing in life. They are the ones who create us. With that being said I’m close to becoming a father myself.
“My wife is very pregnant right now, so seeing her go through nine months of difficulties, I remember calling my mum a few months ago and saying to her how much more I appreciate my wife right now because it’s an unbelievable thing.”
