Former Arsenal star Mesut Ozil will not be retiring from football despite undergoing surgery on a back injury, according to his agent Erkut Sogut.

The 34-year-old has seen his career stutter since leaving the Gunners in 2021, making 37 appearances for Fenerbahce before seeing his contract mutually terminated.

Since then, Ozil has signed for Istanbul Basaksehir but has seen his match action limited due to illness and then a troublesome back injury that has derailed his season so far.

The playmaker has played just 21 minutes of first team action since joining the club over the summer and after undergoing surgery on his back problem, rumours started circling to suggest that he may be set to call a day on his football career.

However according to his agent, that speculation is untrue.

As quoted by AS, Sogut said: “Mesut was operated on successfully. He will play again when he is fully recovered. 

"It's not about leaving football. 

"If that decision is made, he will explain it himself. He won't let anyone do it for him. 

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"Mesut has already explained why he has gone to Başakşehir after leaving Fenerbahçe; but he had already said that he would not play for any other big team other than Fenerbahçe. 

"He will not play for Beşiktaş, Galatasaray or Trabzonspor."

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