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Mesut Ozil unfollows Fenerbahce and looks set to quit football to become a gamer

mirror.co.uk, 21 June 2022, 15:14
The former Germany international's football career appears to be drawing to a close after unfollowing Fenerbahce on social media after comments from new boss Jorge Jesus Mesut Ozil has been frozen out at Fenerbahce

Mesut Ozil has unfollowed Fenerbahce on his social media accounts after being told that he would not play for the club under new boss Jorge Jesus.

The former Arsenal playmaker has two years remaining on his contact at the Turkish giants, whom he joined in January 2020 after being ostracised by Mikel Arteta and subsequently having his contact ripped up in North London.

New Fener boss Jorge Jesus has already claimed that Ozil has 'had his time' after he endured a public falling out with Ismail Kartal, the predecessor of the Portuguese coach. That has led to Ozil's agent Dr. Erkut Sogat claiming that the former Germany international would end his football career after his spell in Turkey and become a gamer.

The most recent of the 33-year-old's 37 matches - in which he has scored nine goals - came in March and it now looks evident that he will not play a part in their future plans. New boss Jesus has said: "He had his time, his space. He has a beautiful history in Turkey, no one can take it away from him.

"He is a well-known player around the world. But I will follow exactly what was the end of the Ozil era. The most important thing here is Fenerbahce and it is from there that I build my ideas and the players who come to work with me."

Ozil has responded to that by unfollowing the Istanbul club's social media accounts in the latest indication that there is no way back for him at Fener. However, he does still have two years remaining on his contract.

Have Your Say! Have Ozil's talents been underappreciated in recent years? Tell us what you think here.

In a recent interview with The Telegraph, Ozil's agent Sogat spoke of his client's future plans: "I think he will not play football in any other club any more. I can't see that - it will be Fenerbahce and that's it.

"He will go more into esports, play himself and maybe become an esports athlete. He's really good, to be honest, at Fortnite and I think one day I wouldn't be surprised if he is competing. He owns a team - M10 Esports - and he has players. He has a gaming house in Germany. He has football, like Fifa, and Fortnite."

In an exclusive interview with Mirror Football, Sogat added: "I think he wants to retire his career in Turkey, he always wanted it. I can imagine he'll still do something at Fenerbahce or something in Turkey. He is settled there with the family, he loves living there and is enjoying it as well.

"I can't see right now him going to another country from there. Before the move to Fenerbahce, it could have been done but not anymore I guess. But you never know in football."

Ozil - a World Cup winner with Germain in 2014 - himself has previously stated that he would be finishing his playing career at the Turkish giants, a decision which he described as "clear and final".

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