Mesut Ozil was born in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, into a Turkish immigrant family, fostering a deep connection to his ancestral homeland from an early age.
Following stints with Real Madrid and Arsenal, Ozil moved to Fenerbahce before concluding his playing career with Basaksehir, ultimately choosing Istanbul as his permanent home.
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Mesut Ozil played for Basaksehir before retiring in 2023. *Photo: Anadolu*
In 2019, Ozil acquired a plot of land in Kucuk Camlica, an upscale residential area offering panoramic views of the Bosphorus Strait, for nearly 10 million USD. He then constructed a lavish villa, featuring a modern gym and a distinctive circular fountain, often seen in photographs of his wife, Amine Gulse, Miss Turkey 2014.
The prime location of his estate also places him as a neighbor to President Erdogan, who served as Ozil's best man at his 2019 wedding, according to German newspaper Bild.
The bond between Ozil and Erdogan is reportedly so close that Ozil's daughters, Eda and Ela, along with his third child, refer to the President as "Grandpa". When President Erdogan travels from Ankara to Istanbul, Ozil is said to visit without prior notice.
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President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks at the wedding of Mesut Ozil and Amine Gulse. *Photo: Pool Presidential Press Service*
Despite his political connections, Ozil's relationship with his father, Mustafa, remains unreconciled. Ozil has not communicated with his father since 2013, following Mustafa's unsuccessful contract extension negotiations with Real Madrid while serving as Ozil's agent.
Real Madrid once accused Ozil and his father of greed, while Mustafa publicly labeled Club President Florentino Perez "dishonorable". Subsequently, Mustafa sued Ozil for nearly 700,000 USD after the former German midfielder appointed his brother, Mutlu, as his new agent.
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Mesut Ozil with his wife and two children.
Beyond his lavish lifestyle, Ozil's post-retirement years in Turkey have also been marked by controversy. In 2024, he displayed a tattoo featuring a grey wolf symbol and a three-crescent moon flag, emblems associated with the far-right Grey Wolves organization, which is banned in several countries. This incident reportedly led to his exclusion from the guest list for a 2025 tribute ceremony honoring former midfielder Diego Ribas at Werder Bremen.
Earlier, Ozil reportedly posted and then deleted a map that denied the existence of the State of Israel, amidst his public support for Palestine. These actions have consistently fueled controversy surrounding his public image, even as he dedicates his time to a football academy and charity work in Istanbul.
Hong Duy (Source: Daily Mail)
