The move from Mesut Özil to Fenerbahce Istanbul raises questions. Will he end his career in Turkey? Or is he just starting over?
In retrospect, all parties had certainly imagined this differently.
In September 2013, FC Arsenal managed a real coup with the signing of Mesut Özil. The Gunners paid Real Madrid 47 million euros for the then 24-year-old, at that time an internal record sum.
Seven and a half years later, the now 32-year-old 2014 World Champion leaves the club from London through the back door. The contract is terminated half a year before expiry, Özil has not played for a long time. The switch to Fenerbahce Istanbul is almost fixed, Özil is already in Turkey to conclude negotiations. “God wanted me to play for Fenerbahce. I will wear the jersey with pride and give everything for the team, “Özil told Turkish TV channel NTV in a telephone interview.
Change as a career killer for Özil?
From an emotional point of view, the change is more than understandable. In Turkey, Özil is revered, Fenerbahce is a traditional club with a large fan base and quite ambitious goals. But from a sporting point of view, one must inevitably ask oneself: Has Özil finally buried his career with this step?
Upon his arrival in London, Özil was considered one of the best playmakers in Europe, having played with none other than superstar Cristiano Ronaldo after his Bundesliga stops at Schalke 04 and Werder Bremen from 2010 to 2013.