Mesut Ozil has reaffirmed his commitment to Fenerbahce and said he has “no other purpose than to contribute.”
The World Cup winner has found himself ostracised at the second straight club, just over two years after his acrimonious Arsenal exit. In north London, Mikel Arteta decided that he was deemed surplus to requirements, ultimately allowing him to rip up his Gunners contract prematurely.
That enabled Ozil to join his boyhood club Fenerbahce, where, after a positive start, he has run into familiar issues. And after a public falling out with former boss Ismail Kartal, his predecessor Jorge Jesus hinted that Ozil’s time at the club was coming to an end.
“He had his time, his space. He has a beautiful history in Turkey, no one can take it away from him,” Jesus said at his official unveiling at the end of last month.
“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.”
That had raised the possibility of Ozil calling time on his professional career, with the 33-year-old previously suggesting he would retire with the Turkish giants, while his agent claimed he could become an esports player instead.
Dr. Erku Sogat, Ozil's representative, told the Telegraph in a recent interview: “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.”
And after unfollowing Fener on social media, reports of him hanging up his boots only increased. But Ozil has hit back on social media and insisted his full focus remains on playing for his beloved team.
“I wanted to make this statement in order to prevent the discrediting of myself in the public and to inform our community correctly,” he posted on Twitter.
“First of all, I make my preparations individually with a special program, and I patiently wait for my time to come in order to meet my childhood love and contribute.
“I did not come to Fenerbahce and my homeland Turkey for a holiday. Every time I wear our glorious jersey, I have no other purpose than to contribute. I have many goals that I would like to achieve in Fenerbahçe, my childhood love. I will not quit football until I do these things.
“Both me and my club are going through a process inherent in football. It is my greatest desire to serve my beloved Fenerbahçe by getting through this process in the best way possible. My request to our fans is that they do not give credence to the fake news in the media.”
