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Between sport and esport, there are connections obvious, especially when looking at preparation, training and the notion of performance. Some athletes do not hesitate to enter the sports zone and we can salute projects like those of Kün Aguero, David Beckham or Casemiro.
But yesterday, a crazy rumor took the web by storm. A professional footballer, crowned world champion in 2014 and still active, has decided to end his career to convert to competitive video games. The news caused a stir, especially because it was about a very popular player who made many people dream with his elegant style of play. But, like many rumors floating around on the Internet, you have to take tweezers before dissecting it. The nuance between the real news and the little intox can be very fine depending on the situation.
Someone spoke a little too fast
It should already be noted that the little bomb took a long time to come out. Ozil is no longer at the top of his career. After winning many titles with big teams like Real Madrid and Arsenal, he now plays in the Turkish league with the Fenerbahce. The team is very supported in Turkey and moves the crowds, but its international influence is less. If we talk about national selection, the German won the Grail in 2014 and he was the heyday of the Mannschaft for many years where he accumulated just under 100 selections. But he has not worn the white jersey since 2018. In addition to his form, he had above all suffered from a big controversy because of his relationship with Erdogan, the very authoritarian Turkish leader. In short, Ozil is no longer as exposed as before. But for this same reason, his retraining in the video game was more plausible than for a young player in the thick of it. Some even went so far as to say that he was in conflict with Fenerbahce and that he had stopped following the club on Instagram…
But in the end, the source behind the rumor was unreliable. His agent might have been better off twirling his tongue in his mouth seven times before speaking. It was he who revealed during an interview that Ozil thought a lot about hanging up his cleats and that he had a very good level in Fortnite. By speaking in place of his player, he put him in a delicate situation. The German was forced to correct the situation and deny it. In the end, he would intend to continue his life in the world of football. He still has many things to accomplish and while his team is qualified for the next Champions League (preliminary round), there are some great evenings to look for. As he begins to regain feeling (26 matches played all competitions combined last season), it would be a shame to stop there, especially after the big slump he experienced with Arsenal at the end. Move on, so there’s nothing to see.
Ozil does have a foot in esports though.
To understand why some have caught fire so quickly, it should be noted that Mesut Ozil already has a foot in esports. He owns the structure M10 Esports, which has Fortnite and FIFA players. As a big boss, he could therefore have offered himself a place in the sun, as an active ambassador and whatever his true level. In the past, he has already organized big merch giveaways to give visibility to his structure.
But for the moment, his involvement in esports is limited to that. To be completely honest, the fact that the rumor turns into an intox makes us rather happy. Ozil made us dream in the past with his vista and his technique. We think back in particular to his unforgettable goal in the Champions League against Ludogorets. Seeing him on the field is a blessing and we hope to continue to see him play for as long as possible.