Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Mesut Ozil, Germany, Football
Nasir Jabbar
Mario Basler has launched a scathing attack on Mesut Ozil as he wants him BANNED from entering Germany even though he's a citizen.
Ozil called time on his international career in 2018 after starring at the 2014 World Cup as Germany beat Argentina to become world champions.
He retired from the international arena at 29 as he cited racism and lashed out at the German football federation.
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Ozil's departure from the German national team has still left a sour taste in the mouth of Basler, who has taken aim at the former Arsenal star.
The 54-year-old, who played 30 times for Germany, has branded the ex-Real Madrid midfielder's reasoning behind his retirement 'an absolute disgrace'.
What's more, Basler wouldn't let him back in Germany even though Ozil is a German citizen.
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"The exit he prepared for himself was extremely bad." he told Bild. "If I had something to say, I wouldn't let him go to Germany anymore. He claims things that he was racially insulted at the DFB. I think that's too far-fetched.
"An absolute disgrace."
Before the 2018 World Cup, where Germany crashed out of the tournament at the group stage round, Ozil caused a stir as he was pictured with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
On the picture, he added: "This picture left him with great damage."
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Basler continued his onslaught as he diminished Ozil's contribution during the 2018 World Cup.
"I have never felt sorry for Mesut. Sure, we became world champions. But we didn't become world champions because of him. But he was there. He was a player who had great talent.
"For myself, it wasn’t as big as it was made out to be."
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Despite Basler's condemnation, Ozil was a German international for over nine years and holds the record for the most German national team Player of the Year awards (5) during his glittering career.