ISTANBUL: Former Germany, Real Madrid and Arsenal star Mesut Ozil, who retired in 2023, was elected Sunday for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) party of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the party announced.
The German -born winner of the World Cup in 2014 joined the AKP’s Central Council at a congress in Ankara, where Erdogan was re -elected for the ninth time as leader of the Conservative Party, which has ruled Turkey since 2002.
Ozil, who ended his club career in Istanbul, is a long -time Erdogan supporter, after choosing him as his best husband in 2019 for his wedding for a former Miss Turkey, Amine Gulse.
A photo of Ozil and Erdogan with former Germany teammate Ilkay Guendogan, also of Turkish origin, caused controversy, with Berlin accused the Turkish state of oppressive operation, while Ozil was criticized by the German to the right.
Ozil, who was previously held up as a symbol of a multicultural Germany, turned his back on the German national team and accused the German Football Association of Racism.
