Germany head coach, Joachim Low, says he is “disappointed” Mesut Ozil did not contact him before announcing his international retirement nor has the Arsenal playmaker spoken to him since.
Ozil announced he would not be available for the national team last month following fierce criticism in Germany both for his performances on the pitch, where Low’s side was eliminated at the World Cup group stage for the first, and off it.
In Ozil’s announcement, he claimed that the German federation had allowed “people with racially discriminative backgrounds” to work in the organisation. He did not allege any racism within Low’s squad.
Low, naming his squad for a Uefa Nations League game against France and friendly against Peru, insisted the Arsenal superstar’s controversy had not been behind Germany’s World Cup struggles but did not hide his disappointment at being without a cornerstone of his squad over the past eight years.
“There was never any form of racism in the Germany team,” he said. “His agent called me and informed about his retirement.
“Mesut did not call me, not to this very day. I tried to reach him several times in the past two weeks, via text message, via phone. Mesut has decided to take this path. I must accept it.
“Ozil has been my player for nine years. We’ve experienced a lot together. A few lows, but more highs. We’ve won the World Cup. This will still stay forever.
“I am still of the opinion that he was one of the best players we had in Germany in the last 20, 30 years. One day, we’ll have a conversation. I would have wished for him to inform me personally, and I was disappointed at first.”
Low’s first squad since the World Cup also saw a return for Manchester City winger Leroy Sane, the surprise absentee from the 23 man squad that went to Russia, and first call-ups for Paris Saint-Germain defender Thilo Kehrer, Hoffenheim midfielder Nico Schluz and Bayer Leverkusen playmaker Kai Havertz.
