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Istanbul (AP) - Former German national soccer player Mesut Özil has made a name for himself with his new club with a lot of pathos after moving to Fenerbahce Istanbul.
"I am very happy to come to Turkey and to be able to wear my childhood team's jersey," he told the Turkish TV station NTV.
“God wanted me to play for Fenerbahce.
I will wear the jersey with pride and give everything for the team ”, whose contract will run until 2024, according to“ Bild ”.
“Mesut is adored, and not just by Fenerbahce supporters.
The whole of Turkey is looking forward to Mesut », said ex-professional Erdal Keser at Sport1.
"Mesut was out of action for a long time, of course, but at the moment switching to a club where he is welcomed with open arms was absolutely right in terms of sport," added the 59-year-old ex-national player and former Borussia Dortmund professional.
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Özil's move was recently "one of the biggest transfers to Turkey," said Keser.
Financially, Özil will have to cut back, he added.
"He will earn quite a bit, but only part of what he got at Arsenal".
In the past few years you have "always put all the blame on your back when things don't go well - be it in the national team or, most recently, with the Gunners".
Even though he never played for the Turkish national team, all Turks are very happy to have “such a compatriot who lives the Turkish spirit in the world”, underlined Keser.
One ignores the fact that “he played for another country, but now almost pretends to be a Turkish citizen.
As negative as it was, his positioning with the Turkish President Erdogan was clear. "
Before the 2018 World Cup, Özil came under fire when he was photographed together with the head of state Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Three months later he resigned from the German national team, criticized the DFB and denounced racism.
Keser assumes that Özil will soon take on Turkish citizenship.
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© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210119-99-80911 / 4
Instagram post from Mesut Özil
The Athletic Report
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Özil tweet about Fenerbahce
Özil tweet after arrival
Fenerbahce tweet
Erdal Keser at Sport1