Germany head coach Joachim Low has revealed that he was surpised by Mesut Ozil‘s decision to retire from international football by surprise.

Low was enjoying a holiday in Sardinia when news of the 29-year old’s retirement came, and he only found out when Ozil posted statements on Twitter and Instagram.

“Neither the national coach nor I were informed in advance,” Low’s agent Harun Arslan confirmed to German daily Bild.

The Arsenal midfielder had cited “racism and disrespect” as reasons for his retirement while also targeting the president of the German FA, Reinhard Grindel.

“In the eyes of Grindel and his supporters, I am German when we win, but I am an immigrant when we lose,” Ozil, who has Turkish roots, wrote in his lengthy farewell statement.

The German Football Association (DFB) had denied Ozil’s claims on Monday. However, its image was tarnished.

In a survey of 5,000 Germans, that was conducted soon after the saga unfolded, by t-online.de, 49.7 per cent said Grindel should resign over the saga.

Ozil admitted that he won’t wear the German jersey now after the furore caused by the picture with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the eve of the World Cup, as Grindel did not come to his rescue amidst all the criticism.

After Germany’s early exit from the World Cup in Russia, following a 2-0 defeat to South Korea, many pundits had put the onus on Ozil.

A World Cup winner in 2014 though, Ozil is walking away after nine years as one of Low’s most trusted players.

He has scored 23 goals and provided 40 assists in 92 appearances for Germany, and his loss is a big blow to Low, who deployed him as his main playmaker.

Germany’s first game after the World Cup disappointment is against world champions France in the new Nations League tournament on September 6 in Munich.

And with Ozil now gone, Low will have to find his replacement.

Paris Saint-Germain’s Julian Draxler or Borussia Dortmund star Marco Reus could be the leading candidates.

Meanwhile, Ozil’s team-mates have wished him well on his career with the German squad.

“Mesut Abi (‘brother’ in Turkish), your technique on the ball has opened the door to the national team for players like me,” Draxler wrote on his Instagram account.

“Thank you for everything you’ve done for German football. You can be proud of your many achievements.”

However, there are some who who don’t see Ozil’s retirement as a great loss for Germany.

“He has not put in performances that can help the national team over the last 18 months to two years, nor was he convincing at the World Cup in his two outings,” ex-Germany captain Lothar Matthaus told Sky Sports.

“Now there is the chance for a younger, maybe even a better player” to come into the Germany side, Matthaus added.

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