At the age of 34, the Legendary midfielder Mesut Ozil has chosen to retire from football with injuries playing a big part in his decision.
Mesut Ozil took to Instagram to announce the end of what he termed ‘an amazing journey filled with unforgettable moments and emotions.’ The former German international’s previous club was Istanbul Basaksehir in the Turkish Süper Lig.
At Basaksehir, Ozil struggled for playing time and had similar fitness problems during his 18-month spell at rivals Fenerbahce, playing 37 times and scoring 9 goals. His contract would later be terminated after being suspended for the final four months at the club ahead of his move to the rivals Basaksehir.
The playmaker signed a three-and-a-half-year contract in January 2018 for around £350,000 a week before taxes, becoming the highest-paid player in club history, but he lost favor under new Arsenal manager Unai Emery.
Following Emery’s firing in December 2019, Ozil rejoined the team under interim manager Freddie Ljungberg, and he remained there under Mikel Arteta until the coronavirus pandemic forced the top flight to be suspended for three months in March 2020.
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A similar pattern to Basaksehir’s exit, was evident at Arsenal when Manager Mikel Arteta left him out of the squad for the first half of the 2020/21 season after he missed the end of the 2019/20 season due to injury. It was not the end both parties would have wished for, having spent seven years at the Emirates, making 254 appearances and winning the FA Cup on four occasions.
After three years at Real Madrid, where he won LaLiga and the Cup del Rey, Ozil was transferred to north London by Arsene Wenger in September 2013. In his home country, Germany, he had previously played for Werder Bremen and Schalke.
A World Cup winner in 2014, Ozil was a crucial member of the squad as they won 1-0 against Argentina in the final. He scored 23 goals in 92 appearances for Germany.
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