Arsenal star Mesut Ozil announced his retirement from the Germany national team on Sunday.
Ozil has been hounded by sections of the German media and former Germany international players after the national teams poor showing in the World Cup.
The controversy stretches back to the playmaker taking photographs with Turkey president Recep Tayyip Erdogan a few months back.
The 29-year-old explained his decision in detail on social media.
The past couple of weeks have given me time to reflect, and time to think over the events of the last few months. Consequently, I want to share my thoughts and feelings about what has happened. pic.twitter.com/WpWrlHxx74
— Mesut Özil (@MesutOzil1088) July 22, 2018
II / III pic.twitter.com/Jwqv76jkmd
— Mesut Özil (@MesutOzil1088) July 22, 2018
III / III pic.twitter.com/c8aTzYOhWU
— Mesut Özil (@MesutOzil1088) July 22, 2018
Ozil’s former Germany international teammates Jerome Boateng reacted to the decision with a tweet showing a photograph of the two players together after winning the World Cup.
Boateng revealed it was a ‘pleasure’ to be Ozil’s teammate, referring to him as ‘abi’ which is Turkish for older brother.
Es war mir eine Freude, Abi ?? // It was a pleasure Abi ?? @MesutOzil1088 #u21europeanchampion2009 #worldchampion2014 pic.twitter.com/NF1uz8sUiK
— Jerome Boateng (@JB17Official) July 23, 2018
