Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has defended being photographed with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Gundogan and Arsenal ace Mesut Ozil were snapped with Erdogan, along with Everton's Turkey striker Cenk Tosun. The German FA was angry seeing Ozil and Gundogan being used in what they described as a "political stunt".

Gundogan, however, has since insisted: "In no way we wanted to give the photos a political meaning, let alone campaign in his favor.

"Our life is football and not politics."