Football fans and booing is nothing out of the ordinary.In fact, it's part and parcel of the game, particularly if any players dare to return to their former home after making a controversial transfer.However, when you're booed by your fans while playing for your country, that's when things get really tough.It's a rare negative experience, but Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan had to endure it when Germany took on Saudi Arabia on Friday night.Die Mannschaft were pretty ordinary in Leverkusen, with Timo Werner easily the star of the show as Joachim Low's side claimed a 2-1 victory.Gundogan didn't start the game, but when he was brought on he was subjected to a chorus of boos after he and Mesut Ozil were pictured recently with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.You can watch the reception he got when he replaced Marco Reus below.

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A horrible experience, with German players rallying around their teammate after the game.

And now, Gundogan has broken his silence, giving an interview to France Football about the experience.

FF: "Did the backlash surprise you?"

IG: "Some reactions touched me, including personal attacks. In recent years we have done a lot to promote integration in Germany. We do not only have a Turkish side, inherited from our parents and our families. We were born and raised in Gelsenkirchen. It is a city with a high percentage of immigrants. That’s why I was very shocked to hear that we were not integrated and that we did not want to live according to German values."

FF: "You were booed in the match against Saudi Arabia. That hurt you?"

IG: "Obviously it’s something. We are used to the whistles of the opposing fans, but when we are booed by his own fans, it’s hard to live with."

Kind of heartbreaking. It will be interesting to see how the Germany fans react to Gundogan in Russia for the World Cup.