Former Arsenal star Mesut Ozil will focus on a career in Esports when he retires from football, according to his agent.
The German World Cup winner’s future is in limbo after he was frozen out of the Fenerbahce squad, and new manager Jorge Jesus suggested his time at the club was up.
Ozil, 33, has played only three league matches since mid-January, but he has another two years left to run on his contract in Turkey.
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It remains unclear what will happen next, although his agent Dr Erkut Sogut told the Telegraph that he expects Ozil to stay in Istanbul.
“I think he will not play football in any other club any more. I can't see that – it will be Fenerbahce and that’s it,” he said.
Perhaps more surprising is what Sogut expects Ozil to do next, once the former Werder Bremen, Schalke, Real Madrid and Arsenal man’s decorated playing career is over.
“He will go more into Esports, play himself and maybe become an Esports athlete,” said the agent.
“He’s really good, to be honest, at Fortnite and I think one day I wouldn’t be surprised if he is competing.
“He owns a team – M10 Esports – and he has players. He has a gaming house in Germany. He has football, like Fifa, and Fortnite.”
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Arsenal are busy in the transfer market already – and have reportedly already tied up their first deal of the window according to reports.
The search for a striker is ongoing. Gabriel Jesus is still a huge rumour, with the Gunners set to offer him a huge pay rise – though there may yet be stumbling blocks. Gianluca Scamacca remains the Plan B for Arsenal, though both Napoli striker Victor Osimhen and Juventus star Alvaro Morata have been touted.
In midfield, Carney Chukuemeka of Aston Villa, long-term target Houssem Aouar, Serie A star Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Leicester City schemer Youri Tielemans are on the radar. The north Londoners apparently remain confident of convincing Bukayo Saka to stay, too.
