Fans urged to help pay Ozil wages

MESUT OZIL sealed his move to Fenerbahce – and then learnt the Turkish club were appealing to fans to help pay his wages.

The playmaker, below, ended his Arsenal misery by agreeing a free transfer switch on a three-and-a-halfyear deal.

But the Super Lig side, who have debts of £450million, asked supporters to contribute to his £3m-a-year salary via a text-message campaign.

Fenerbahce president Ali Koc aims to raise almost £2m after his bizarre plea.

“We have a request for our fans,” he said. “Please continue to support us, we are also dependent on your financial support.

“On the day of the signature, I will ask you to break a record. With an SMS campaign. Maybe 300,000, 500,000 or maybe even one million text messages come together. This support will do us very good.”

Text messages in the ‘Mesutol campaign’ will cost just under £2

and will be sent to the number 1907, the year Fenerbahce were founded.

Koc added: “I believe and know that there will be a big rush for the jerseys.”

Ozil, 32, spent eight years at the Emirates but was frozen out under boss Mikel Arteta and last played 10 months ago.

But in an open letter, the £42million signing said he will be a “Gunner for life”. “It’s difficult for me to put into words the love I feel for the club and the fans,” said the German, who became the highest-paid player in the club’s history in January 2018.

“I will be a Gunner for life - no doubt about that. Arsenal are a club of class and prestige, something that I felt every time I walked on to the pitch.

“The past few months haven’t been the easiest. But it is important to look for the positives in life and not the negative, which is why I try to live with no regrets and holding no grudges.”