Man City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan puts match-worn shirts, boots and even a personal Zoom call up for auction as German raises cash to help local cafes and restaurants that are struggling during Covid-19 pandemic
- Manchester City’s Ilkay Gundogan is determined to help struggling businesses
- Across the city, the German midfielder wants to help cafes and restaurants
- He is using an online auction site to sell off some match-worn shirts and boots
- Gundogan is even offering a personal Zoom call with the current bid at £450
Ilkay Gundogan has put match-worn shirts and boots up for auction in a bid to raise thousands of pounds to help businesses across Manchester cope with the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Manchester City midfielder is determined to make a difference with cafes and restaurants across the city struggling financially to survive.
Using online auction site Charity Stars, Gundogan has seven items on sale and is currently set to net more than £3,000 to donate.
Ilkay Gundogan has placed a number of his match-worn Manchester City shirts for auction
Signed shirts and boots will raise money that Gundogan will donate to help cafes and restaurants across Manchester that are struggling financially amid the Covid-19 pandemic
Writing on his page, Gundogan wrote: ‘Hello my name is Ilkay Gündogan and I’m a professional footballer of Manchester City.
‘Until the end of the current season I will provide very special items and prizes that you can bid on. All proceeds will go to cafes and restaurants in Manchester who are struggling with the effects of the lockdown.
‘Over the last few years I spent a lot of time in the city’s many wonderful cafés and restaurants. During this time, I have met so many great people who tell me how difficult the situation has become for them in the last weeks and months due to the lockdown.
Gundogan has seven items up for auction, including a personal meet and greet (middle)
‘I want to use the initiative to support people during this challenging time and at the same time offer fans the opportunity to buy something special at auction. Thank you very much for your participation and good luck for the auctions!’
Gundogan is auctioning match worn shirts from games against Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Manchester United and West Brom, all of which have been signed.
He is also offering up his original, match worn boots for the game against West Brom at the Etihad Stadium on December 15.
Other offerings include a personal 30-minute Zoom call with the Germany international in February, with bids topping £450 with 12 days remaining.
The German (right) is making an impact on and off the pitch now after his brace at West Brom
The most desired item in his auction is a personal meet-and-greet that has seen the highest bid so far come in at £600.
The winning bidder will, once Covid-19 permissions allow, spend 30 minutes in one of the city’s cafes or restaurants with the midfielder and a friend or family member and both guests will also receive a signed shirt.
Gundogan, a two-time Premier League winner, is making a difference on and off the pitch right now having taken his goal tally this season to nine following a man-of-the-match brace in the 5-0 rout of West Brom.