Mesut Ozil has shared insights into his new life in Istanbul after retiring from professional football in 2023. He also disclosed that the unresolved conflict with his father, which began 13 years ago following his departure from Real Madrid, remains a sore point.

The ex-Germany international, born in Gelsenkirchen to Turkish immigrant parents, has always felt a strong connection to Turkey. This bond ultimately led him to join Fenerbahce after his tenure with Arsenal.

Ozil decided to settle in Istanbul after concluding his playing career with a stint at Basaksehir.

Now 37, he has finished constructing an opulent mansion equipped with a luxurious gym and a distinctive circular water feature at the entrance. This setting often serves as a picturesque backdrop for his influencer wife Amine’s photography sessions.

According to Bild, this prime location places Ozil in close proximity to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was the best man at his wedding in 2019.

Mesut Ozil has shared new details about his life in Istanbul after retiring from football

His wife Amine – former Miss Turkey World – frequently uses the couple’s stunning villa as a backdrop for her photoshoots

Ozil and President Erdogan have maintained a strong friendship since the wedding. When Erdogan visits Istanbul from his presidential residence in Ankara, Ozil reportedly has the privilege of visiting the president’s home without prior notice or an invitation.

Such is the bond between them that Ozil’s daughters Eda and Ela, with Ozil and Amine expecting a third daughter this year, are thought to call the premier ‘Grandpa’. 

While Ozil and his wife have maintained contact with their children’s biological grandmother, his mother Gulizar – who is said to be preparing for a visit to support with their third child – bonds with his father are said to remain severed. 

Ozil allegedly has not had contact with Mustafa since 2013, when his father, then his agent, had failed to broker a contract extension at Real Madrid. 

At the time, Daily Mail Sport reported that the club had accused Ozil and his father of ‘greed’, while Mustafa had called club president Florentino Perez ‘not an honourable man’. 

Mustafa later sued his son for £495,000 after he was replaced in the role by his other son Mutlu. 

But despite keeping a low profile in Turkey working on his football academy and supporting charitable initiatives, his post-retirement era has not been without controversy. 

In 2024 while working out in his elaborate home gym, Ozil showed off a tattoo featuring a grey wolf and a flag with three crescent moons, symbols widely associated with the Grey Wolves, a far-right extremist, ultra-nationalist and anti-Semitic group. 

The 37-year-old remains incredibly close with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was best man at his wedding

Ozil and his wife’s two daughters – with a third on the way – are said to refer to the president as ‘Grandpa’ due to their close bond

But Ozil’s time in Turkey has not been without controversy, with speculation over his tattoo in 2024 going viral on social media

The group is banned in a number of countries, and due to his alleged political affiliations, Ozil was left off the guest list for a Werder Bremen tribute for former player Diego Ribas in 2025. 

‘We have agreed with Diego not to invite Mesut due to his recent actions, which do not represent the club’s values,’ a spokesperson said.

The Grey Wolves, since their inception, had been linked to numerous violent acts, including an attempted assassination on Pope John Paul II back in 1981, and some of their members have even been accused of murder.

Among the nations that have banned the Grey Wolves’ activity are France and Austria, the former doing so after a monument to the Armenian genocide near Lyon was defaced with pro-Turkish slogans in 2020.

Asked by the Telegraph in 2025 if the tattoo on his chest was a reference to the Grey Wolves, Ozil’s representatives did not respond. 

In 2024, Ozil was also alleged to have posted and deleted a map which appeared to deny the existence of the state of Israel. 

The former Arsenal star had long been an outspoken supporter of Palestine amid roiling conflict in the region, and is believed to have shared a picture of a map with Israel crossed out with a red X, with the word ‘Palestine’ underlined in bold letters.