Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gndoan has hit back at detractors who have criticised him for liking a photo of Everton striker Cenk Tosun's supposedly military charged celebration after he scored for Turkey on Friday.
Tosun scored a late winner in Turkey's 1-0 victory over Albania and marked the goal by posing with teammates in a military salute.
The celebration has been linked as a gesture of support for Turkish troops fighting Kurds in Syria.
Gundogan, who has a relationship with Turkey president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, liked the post but says he was only supporting a friend.
"It is blatant what is written these days is for clicks. I thought I liked a photo of a friend I've lived with in Manchester, who's having a tough time at Everton, barely playing, then scoring a goal and leading his team to victory," Gundogan told reporters after scoring a brace in Germany's 3-0 win over Estonia.
"Next, I believe 200,000 other people have liked this image, footballers from all over the world. Then we are the two picked and made a story out of. It's a pity.
"There was absolutely no political intention behind it. Emre and I are both consistent against any kind of war and terror, no matter where it takes place in the world.
"That's why it was only intended as a pure support for our friend."
