Ozil excluded from Fenerbahce squad along with Turkey star as club release statement

The Super Lig club released a statement confirming Ozil and Tufan have been excluded from Ismail Kartal's squad indefinitely, with the reason behind the decision not made public.

A Fenerbahce statement read: "Our Football A Team players Mesut Özil and Ozan Tufan have been excluded from the squad as per the decision taken."

Ozil left Arsenal for Fenerbahce in January 2021 after nine months without featuring for the Gunners, who ripped up the remaining six months of the ex-Real Madrid star's contract to let him leave.

The 33-year-old has nine goals for the Turkish club this season and was substituted at half-time in their 2-1 win against Konyaspor on Sunday.

After his acrimonious Emirates exit, ex-Germany playmaker Ozil struggled to find his feet in Turkey and injury restricted him to just ten appearances last season.

He waited months for his first goal contribution and, despite being given the captaincy for the 2021/22 campaign, quickly fell out of favour and failed to start a single league match last October.

Back in November, club president Ali Koc issued a public statement criticising the forward and urging him to turn things around.

He said: "Ozil wants to play more. From now on, he needs to focus on his game and keep his commercial interests out of it. He needs to think about contributing to Fenerbahce."

Things had improved for Ozil since the sacking of Vitor Pereira in December and his eight league goals this season represent his best return since the 2012/13 season with Real Madrid.

Meanwhile, 27-year-old midfielder Tufan, who has also been suspended, spent last season on-loan at Watford and has made 65 appearances for Turkey.