Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has finally broken his silence on the retirement of his German teammate, Mesut Ozil.
Mesut Ozil quit the German national team after claiming that there was some racism involved in the criticism he received following Germany’s ignominious exit from the World Cup.
Neuer said that he and the rest of the German squad are behind Ozil and they understand and respect his decision.
Ozil came under fire when in the build-up to the World Cup, he was photographed with Turkey’s President, Recip Erdogan
He was then targeted as the main culprit in Germany’s poor showing at the World Cup.
While notable figures in German football such as Uli Hoeness have hit Ozil with criticisms, Manuel Neuer has stood with the player and he stated that if Germany had had a good World Cup, this would not be an issue.
“If both of them [Ozil and Gundogan] or all of the players performed great at the World Cup we wouldn’t stand here and talk about this,” he said
Asked if he was disappointed in his compatriot’s decision, the German shot-stopper said; “It’s the decision of [each individual] player.
“When another player is saying that he wants to [retire] it’s his own decision. You have to search [for] the reasons on your own then and in that case, he has found them.
“We’re accepting this decision of course.
“In the past other players had quit their career at the national team too after a tournament like the European Championship or the World Cup.”
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