Does a former world-class footballer break up out of nowhere? Mesut Özil doesn't even think of that. His advisers deny persistent media reports that the 2014 world champion ended his career on Friday. What's next for the ex-DFB star?
Rio world champion Mesut Özil is continuing his career and, as reported in the media, will not be giving up his football boots immediately. Özil's consulting agency GROW denied the report by the Turkish newspaper "Fanatik", according to which the 34-year-old had informed his teammates and those responsible at Basaksehir FK that he wanted to prematurely terminate his contract, which was originally valid until the summer of 2023. According to the report, Özil is said to have already said goodbye to his team.
"The management of GROW can confirm that Mesut will continue to play football," said the statement, which was signed by managing director Thomas Freimuth. Özil, long one of the best footballers in Germany, ends his career in Turkey. First he played for Fenerbahce, now for Basaksehir. In the Bundesliga, the native of Gelsenkirchen wore the jersey of Schalke 04 and Werder Bremen. He celebrated his greatest successes in club football with Spanish record champions Real Madrid and Arsenal FC in London. With Germany in 2010, he inspired the world with breathtakingly fast football and thanks to his ingenious passes - and finally became world champion in Brazil in 2014. How things will continue for the playmaker remains unclear for the time being. His contract with Basaksehir runs until 2024.
After the 2018 World Cup disappointment in Russia, Özil resigned from the selection of the German Football Association (DFB). The midfielder caused a stir ahead of the Russia World Cup with photos showing him with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who later became his best man. This was followed by massive, including racist hostilities, under the impression of which Özil announced his departure from the DFB-Elf. He felt let down by the association and even raised allegations of racism against the DFB leadership. In his statement, Özil was particularly harsh with the then DFB President Reinhard Grindel.
