Mesut Ozil has risked a backlash once again after sitting down for dinner with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The Arsenal playmaker was pictured with his fiancé Amine Gulse at the Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul alongside the Turkish ruler for an Iftar - the break of fasting for an evening meal during Ramadan.

Erdogan is a highly controversial figure. Since a failed coup attempt in 2016, Erdogan has increased his presidential powers and clamped down on freedom of expression.

Mesut Ozil (L) sat down for dinner with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul

Ozil, who is a third-generation Turkish-German, shared an Iftar - a break of fast evening meal

He and his fiance Amine Gulse (L) reportedly invited the controversial ruler to their wedding

According to Reporters Without Borders, Turkey is now the biggest jailer of journalists in the world.

Ozil, who is a third-generation Turkish-German, has been criticised in Germany for his interactions with Erdogan in the past.

He caused controversy by presenting him with a signed Arsenal shirt at a meeting in London in May last year, which led national team manager Oliver Bierhoff to suggest he should have been dropped from the World Cup squad as a result.

Ozil defended the meeting in a statement: 'For me, having a picture with President Erdogan wasn't about politics or elections, it was about me respecting the highest office of my family's country,' he said. 'My job is a football player and not a politician, and our meeting was not an endorsement of any policies.'

The 30-year-old retired after the World Cup having earned 92 caps for Die Mannschaft and led them to World Cup success in 2014. Ozil hit out at racism in the German FA and for making him a 'scapegoat' for Germany's miserable 2018 World Cup performance in the wake of that initial controversy.

Ozil caused controversy in Germany by giving Erdogan a signed Arsenal shirt in May 2018

The Gunners midfielder is likely to feature in the Europa League final later this month

Bild write that local reports suggest Ozil has invited Erdogan to his wedding as a witness on June 7.

The Gunners midfielder is likely to feature in Arsenal's Europa League final showdown with Chelsea in Baku later this month, which takes place on May 29.

Ozil had been linked with a move away from Arsenal but he dismissed speculation about his future after starring in the Gunners' semi-final victory over Valencia.

'I don't think there's a chance of that to be honest,' Ozil told DAZN Dach .

'I've got two more years here and what happens afterwards is not in my hands. We'll see then, but I'm proud to be at this club and really happy at this club.'