Arsenal striker Mesut Ozil has said he did not regret his decision to retire from international football, saying his retirement was "because racism has become a big problem in Germany."

Ozil retired from international football after the first round of the World Cup in Russia 2018, noting that he was subjected to racial targeting after taking a picture with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan before the World Cup.

"After some time and looking at the situation, I realize I made the right decision," Ozil said in an interview with The Atlantic on Thursday.

"It was a very difficult period for me, since I played nine years for Germany, and I was one of the most successful players in the team. I won the World Cup and other titles, played many games, played well for the most part, and did my best."

"But after the picture (with Erdogan) I felt disrespectful and unprotected, I was subjected to racist targeting even politicians and public figures, without anyone coming out of the national team at the time and saying: Stop doing this, he is our player, you can not insult him As such, everyone remained silent. "

Ozil, who was born in Germany to Turkish parents, said racism had become a serious problem in Germany. "There are big problems in Germany," he said.

The Arsenal star explained that he was subjected to a series of incidents of racial targeting at the World Cup, after the German machines failed to overcome the group stage.

"When we got out of the tournament, and I was on my way to leave the stadium, the German fans told me to come back to your country, and talk further."

Ozil stressed that he also suffered financial losses because of what happened to him in the German team.

"Before the World Cup was supposed to conclude some advertising contracts, but suddenly everything stopped and was erased from their advertising campaigns, and some German charities excluded me as ambassador, and advised me to distance myself from their pictures."

"But what made me the most irritated was the reaction of the school I visited in Gelsenkirchen.

"Everything was planned, but then the headmaster told my team that I shouldn't be there because of the media attention and the increasing influence of the right-wing AFD in the city. I didn't believe it, my town, my school?" I have extended my hand to them, but in return I was exposed to what I have not been before. "

Ozil said he would stay with Arsenal until the end of his contract in 2021.