17.02.2025 15:33
The Turkish-origin German footballer Mesut Özil responded to the question, "Why did you choose the German national team instead of Turkey?" Özil stated that his choice of Germany was not a personal preference but a matter of necessity. Özil's statement has added a new dimension to the ongoing debates among football fans in Turkey and Germany.
On March 22, 2023, Mesut Özil, who ended his football career under the RAMS Başakşehir jersey, was a guest on the program "Face to Face with the Youth" broadcasted on Vav TV. The former player, who played for clubs like Real Madrid, Arsenal, and Fenerbahçe, made significant statements.
"THERE WERE DIFFERENT EVENTS AT THAT TIME"
Özil finally gave a clear answer to the most debated and curious question of his career. Responding to the question, "Why did you choose the German national team instead of Turkey?" Özil said, "Not everything is as it is told. There were different events at that time. I had to choose Germany. I achieved a lot of success there as well. I don't want to disrespect them either," he said.
Continuing his statements, Özil said, "My grandfather was one of the first to go to Germany. There was no language, no family, no money. You are alone, you work, you have children, they get married. As a working-class family, you are pushed aside. It was hard to learn the language, but we never hid our Turkish identity," he stated.