Mesut Ozil is one of the best players of his generation and was almost universally worn in his Prime, but reportedly banned his former club because of its political preferences.
Ozil withdrew from football two years ago, the last in the books in Basaksehir in Turkey, with the leading role for Fenerbahce, Arsenal, Real Madrid and Werder Bremen in a legendary career at the top.
One of the awards that the German International has in a Burst trophy cabinet, is a World Cup, LaLala title, German cup, four FA cups, two community shields, a Spanish Super Cup, Copa del Rey, and is also proclaimed 2014-15 German football player of the year.
Since his retirement, however, Ozil has been in the headlines on various occasions, and not just for his fitness videos that show off with his new Hulking -Frame.
Earlier this year, the former midfielder was appointed in the Central Decision and Management Board for the Justice and Development Party Regulation (AKP) party of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the party announced.
Ozil's parents are both Turkish, and although he represented Germany in international football, has a strong bond with his heritage.
But last summer he showed off with a tattoo with a gray wolf and a flag with three half-maen, symbols that are often associated with extreme right-wing extremism, ultra-nationalism and anti-Semitism. The group is prohibited in a number of countries.
As such, because of his alleged political preferences, Ozil was omitted from the guest list for a Werder Bremen -first for former player Diego Ribas, according to BILD.
“We agreed with Diego not to invite Mesut because of his recent actions that do not represent the values of the club,” said a spokesperson.
The gray wolves had been linked to countless violent acts since their foundation, including an attempted murder of Pope John Paul II in 1981, and some of their members were even accused of murder.
Among the nations that have forbidden the activity of the gray wolves, France and Austria, the first to do this after a monument of the Armenian genocide near Lyon, was restless in 2020 with pro-Turkish slogans.
Earlier this year, De Telegraaf asked if the tattoo on his chest was a reference to the gray wolves, the representatives of Ozil did not respond, the outlet claimed.
Ozil is not the only player who has a reported band with the controversial group.
Turkish defender Merih Demiral celebrated his goal at the European Championship 2024 by making the symbol of a wolf with both hands, he was banned from two games.
After the game, the player said that he has' a very strong feeling 'for his country and' is' extremely proud to be Turkish '.
Ozil's own ties with Turkey were well documented before the end of his match days, in particular with retired international football in 2018 after a photo of him and Ilkay Gunodgan – also German but of Turkish origin – Posing with President Erdogan was criticized.
The former Arsenal playmaker noted that he had been dealing with racism as a result of his heritage while he represented Germany and said, “I am German when we win, but I am an immigrant if we lose.”
President Erdogan even acted as the best man in Ozil when he married the Swedish model Amine Gulse in 2019.
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