Soccer is set to lose out on another of its most gifted player of the generation. World Cup winner Mesut Ozil has reportedly decided to quit soccer altogether by mutual consent with the Turkish club Istanbul Basaksehir. The news surfaced last night and the soccer fans were as usual on it, letting their sarcastic and witty response to the news.
⚽️ Mesut Ozil has reportedly decided to retire from football after having his contract terminated.
The Assist King. 👑
📹 @ChampionsLeaguepic.twitter.com/wqk4Zk1XEZ
— The Sportsman (@TheSportsman) February 3, 2023
Mesut Ozil was an incredible representative of the beautiful game. The 34-year-old started his career at the German club Schalke 04 at the age of 17. He moved to Werder Bremen a year later and had three fantastic seasons with the mid-table German club. Then in 2010, Jose Mourinho picked him up at Real Madrid after Ozil had a terrific 2010 World Cup with Germany.
Ozil was originally signed as a backup for Kaka. However, a serious knee injury to the Brazilian gave the German a starting spot. And boy did he deliver. Ozil stayed with the German giants for three seasons and had 81 assists. He averaged an incredible 27 assists every season.
In 2013, English club Arsenal signed Ozil for $46 million on the transfer deadline day. He had a very good start to life in the North London club. But he couldn’t replicate anything near his three-season form at Real Madrid. Ozil however, was still a magical wizard in Arsenal’s midfield. He made 54 assists and scored 33 times in his stay at Arsenal.
🇩🇪 Mesut Ozil has been voted the greatest German Premier League player of all time.
• PL games: 184
• PL goals: 33
• PL assists: 54@MesutOzil1088 | @Arsenal | @piersmorgan | @AFTVMediapic.twitter.com/Lp7TOvyi9F
— The Sportsman (@TheSportsman) July 14, 2020
Mikel Arteta’s incoming as a manager pretty much ended Ozil’s Arsenal time. He signed a monster contract of $420,000 a week with them and his performances dropped drastically. It looked like Ozil’s appetite for the game died completely. Arsenal terminated his contract in January 2021 and he went to Turkey.
Soccer fans react to Mesut Ozil’s decision to quit soccer
Even though Ozil had a very bitter end at Arsenal, fans were optimistic about his future in Turkey. He joined Fenerbache on a two-year deal. But his time at Fenerbache proved to be even worse than his Arsenal spell. Ozil and his teammate Ozan Tufan were frozen out by the club authority after they had some heated arguments with the club’s interim manager Ismail Kartal. Ismail later said that Mesut was physically incompetent to play soccer.
Mesut Ozil made 32 appearances and scored 8 goals for Fenerbache. After Fenerbache he joined Istanbul Basaksehir on a one-year deal with an option to extend for another year. On this Thursday, Ozil featured for 45 minutes in a 1-0 league defeat against Kayserispor. But he didn’t turn up for the training the next day. Journalist Yakup Cinar reported that Ozil has informed his teammates that he will not be continuing as a soccer player anymore.
BREAKING: Mesut Ozil has reportedly quit football. pic.twitter.com/gG2g8fE83s
— SPORTbible (@sportbible) February 3, 2023
In all fairness his prime was amazing. He gave up too easily.
— Arsenal ANOOP (@ArsenalAnoop) February 3, 2023
Arsenal ruined him
— SwiftPlay.Rum ⚪ (@Ofodile89) February 3, 2023
He did that 5 years ago
— . (@thfcsxn) February 3, 2023
Lad quit football the day he signed that 350k a week contract
— Anthony C (@RepofArsenal) February 3, 2023
Arteta ruined his career smh
— Sandi 🍥 (@utdsandi) February 3, 2023
As soon as the news was broken out in the media, the fans went on to let the people know, how they feel. Most of the fans think that Ozil gave up too easily. Whereas other people think that his transfer to Arsenal ruined everything. One fan tweet said, “In all fairness his prime was amazing. He gave up too easily,” summing up Ozil’s career in short.
Ozil’s agent Dr. Erkut Sogut has previously talked about his interest to become an esports athlete. Ozil even has his own esports team M10, where he has players play different games. The man himself likes to stream and play games. So, it does look like the World Cup winner indeed has lost his willingness to play soccer anymore and thus has retired suddenly at 34.
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