(Football news) Turkish football club Fenerbahce and Mesut Ozil have mutually agreed to terminate the midfielder’s contract, two years before it was meant to originally end. Ozil signed for Fenerbahce on a free transfer in January 2021 from Arsenal but hasn’t featured for the club since March after being suspended for falling out with the previous head coach Ismail Kartal. The player made a total of 37 appearances for the Turkish club, scoring nine goals in the process.
Posting on social media on Wednesday, Ozil said “One of the things that makes life is that it is full of uncertainties. Our plans, desires and wishes may not always go in the direction you want them to. I wanted to achieve success by getting more chances to play in the Fenerbahce jersey, which has always been my childhood dream. I would like to thank the Fenerbahce community and fans for the great support they have shown me. I did not come to Fenerbahce and my homeland Turkey for a holiday. Every time I sweat our glorious jersey, I have no other purpose than to contribute. I have many goals that I would like to live in Fenerbahce, my childhood love. I will not quit football until I do these things.”
Ozil is expected to join Turkish Super Lig rivals Istanbul Basaksehir on a one year contract with the option to extend a further year. Basaksehir finished fourth in the league last season, eight points behind second place Fenerbahce who released a statement saying “It has been agreed that the contract between our club and Mesut Ozil will be terminated by mutual agreement. We wish Mesut Ozil success for the rest of his career.” Fenerbahce’s Portuguese boss Jorge Jesus referred to Ozil’s departure as "the end of the Ozil era" in his first press conference.
Having played for Real Madrid, Arsenal and the Germany national team, Ozil has enjoyed tremendous success in his career. However, the 33 year old’s career seems to have taken a downturn for the worst in recent years with his attitude being questioned at both Arsenal and Fenerbahce. There are also reports that Ozil might retire from football altogether in order to pursue a career in esports with his agent Dr. Erkut Sogut saying “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.”
Also read: Euro 2022: Holland Women secure a nervy victory over Portugal
