Adidas won’t renew Mesut Ozil’s boots deal because of financial and political reasons

Mesut Ozil’s boot deal with Adidas to end

German paper Bild have reported on Wednesday that Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil is splitting from Adidas.

Ozil has been an Adidas brand ambassador since 2013.

The German World Cup winner reportedly agreed a 25 million euro, 7-year deal with Adidas.

However, that contract is now approaching its expiration date at the end of the season, and Adidas have decided against any renewal.

Currently, Ozil is set to be without a boot sponsor for the 2020-21 season.

 

Adidas are splitting with Arsenal’s Ozil because of financial and political reasons

Bild approached Adidas for confirmation on why they’ve decided to go their separate way from Ozil.

Adidas’s Oliver Bruggen told Bild: “Contract talks are generally not publicly commented on at Adidas.”

However, the paper have filled in the gaps by presenting two reasons why Ozil’s leaving the Adidas family.

Firstly, Adidas are making the decision for financial reasons in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis.

The Motley Fool have recently looked into Adidas’s latest financial statements, and it’s clear that they’ve been hit by the coronavirus pandemic:

First-quarter results included a big 19.2% slide in year-over-year sales to 4.75 billion euros. Gross profits fell 25.6% to 2.34 billion euros, and margins dipped to 49.3% versus 53.6% a year ago.

Earnings were basically erased by the economic fallout from the pandemic, with net income falling 96.5% to 26 million euros, or 0.13 euros per share.

Sportswear giant #Adidas has reported a shocking 95% decline in Q1 earnings from the same time last year. Net profit went from $632mn last year to $32mn as #covid19 devastated the retail industry. #Nike is expected to report a similar situation. https://t.co/WkL9xechKf pic.twitter.com/h5Epcvcv0F

— Statista (@StatistaCharts) April 28, 2020

However, this financial reasoning feels a little suspect, as one has to wonder how much a deal with Ozil would really impact the company’s bottom-line.

With that said, Bild offered a second reason why Adidas don’t want to work with Ozil anymore: politics.

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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 30: Mesut Ozil of Arsenal during the Carabao Cup Round of 16 match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield on October 30, 2019 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)

Ozil & Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan

In recent years, Ozil has been repeatedly criticised in the German media for his relationship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Ozil, along with Man City’s Ilkay Gundogen, met Erdogan in London in the build up to the 2018 World Cup.

Mr.Erdogan met Ozil, Tosun, and Gundogan on his visit in London #Respect pic.twitter.com/X0GnbQjtOv

— Nur Mia Khahak (@mia_khahak) May 17, 2018

Erdogan also played a chief role at Ozil’s wedding to former Miss Turkey, Amine Gulse.

Following these events, Adidas have reached the conclusion that Ozil’s public image has been negatively impacted.

Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil has married Amine Gulse in Istanbul, where Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was reportedly his best man. #AFC

For more videos, head here: https://t.co/hhDQuQ1top pic.twitter.com/pWIcGtfSNs

— SkyNews (@SkyNews) June 8, 2019

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SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 16: Mesut Ozil of Arsenal on the bench during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Arsenal FC at St Mary’s Stadium on December 16, 2018 in Southampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Do Arsenal still not get involved in politics?

Last year, Ozil took a stance on social media against China’s actions against the Uighurs.

The Arsenal midfielder complained about the silence of Muslims on the issue:

They burn their Qurans. (China) shut down their mosques. They ban their schools. They kill their holy men.

The men are forced into camps and their families are forced to live with Chinese men. The women are forced to marry Chinese men.

But Muslims are silent. They won’t make a noise. They have abandoned them. 

At the time, Arsenal distanced themselves from Ozil’s comments.

Not surprised. @Arsenal just keep distancing themselves from the best in general 👎🏿 https://t.co/LCThV4E022

— Demba Ba (@dembabafoot) December 15, 2019

The Gunners issued a statement which said:

Regarding the comments made by Mesut Özil on social media, Arsenal must make a clear statement.

The content published is Özil’s personal opinion. As a football club, Arsenal has always adhered to the principle of not involving itself in politics.

While Arsenal felt unable to back Ozil in 2019, this week the club supported #BlackOutTuesday.

“The content published is Özil’s personal opinion. As a football club, Arsenal has always adhered to the principle of not involving itself in politics.” https://t.co/txOKpJICGH

— Daniel Harris (@DanielHarris) June 2, 2020

 

Also see: Inter’s Lautaro Martinez to sign a 5-year deal with Barcelona.

Chelsea consider an audacious move to sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Arsenal.

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