Mesut Ozil has been excluded from Fenerbahce’s first team, the Turkish club have announced.
Fenerbahce currently sit third in the Turkish Super Lig, 17 points behind leaders Trabzonspor, and are battling with Konyaspor to finish second in order to secure the final Champions League qualifier place.
Ozil, meanwhile, has struggled for form in recent weeks and was substituted at half time in Fenerbahce’s 2-1 win over Konyaspor on Sunday.
The former Germany international left Arsenal under a cloud of controversy last year after the midfielder fell out with current Gunners coach Mikel Arteta.
Arteta left Ozil out of his Premier League and Europa League squads at the start of last season, which meant the midfielder did not play a single competitive minute for the Gunners between his final appearance for the club in March 2020 and his departure in January 2021.
According to reports in Turkey, Ozil had a meeting with Kartal after the game and complained about the decision to bring him off after just 45 minutes.
‘I could have stayed on the pitch longer,’ Ozil is said to have told Kartal. ‘I’m trying to contribute to this team.’
The 33-year-old joined the Turkish club in January last year after Arsenal agreed to terminate his £350,000-per-week contract.
When Ozil was axed from the Gunners’ first-team squad at the start of the 2020-21 season, the midfielder posted on social media: “I’m really deeply disappointed by the fact that I have not been registered for the Premier League season for the time being.
“Upon signing my new contract in 2018, I pledged my loyalty and allegiance to the club that I love, Arsenal, and it saddens me that this has not been reciprocated.
“As I have just found out, loyalty is hard to come by nowadays. I’ve always tried to remain positive from week to week that there’s maybe a chance to get back in the squad soon again. That’s why I kept silent so far.”
Ozil, who was signed by Arsenal from Real Madrid for £42.4 million in 2013, did not make a single appearance in his final season for the Gunners and was left out of their Premier League and Europa League squads by Mikel Arteta.
