FANS HELP PAY OZIL’S £3M WAGES

Fenerbahce – signing a threeand-a-half-year contract.

However, the cash-strapped Super Lig club asked supporters to contribute to funding his bumper salary via a text message campaign.

World Cup winner Ozil (above) will pocket £3m a year, but club president Ali Koc admitted his side needs financial support.

Koc aims to raise almost £2m in donations following his bizarre request.

He said: “We have a request for our fans.

“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 Mesut jerseys.”

Ozil, 32, spent eight years at the Emirates but was frozen out under boss Mikel Arteta and last played for them last March.

But in an open letter, the one-time £42.4m signing said he will be a “Gunner for life.”

“It is difficult for me to put into words the love I feel for the club and the fans,” said Ozil, who became the highestpaid player in Arsenal history in January 2018.

“I will be a Gunner for life – no doubt about that. Arsenal is 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.

“Like every player, I want to play every minute of football for my team. I try to live with no regrets, no grudges.”

In Arsenal’s statement announcing his departure, technical director Edu and Arteta paid tribute to Ozil.

Arteta said: “His successes will always be part of our history.”