Turkish Super League rivals Fehrenbach announced on Wednesday (13) that they would not be renewing their contract with German midfield superstar Osl after the expiration of his one-year deal. However, just 29 minutes later, another Turkish Super Lig club, Başakşuşi, announced that it had signed a one-year contract with Osl. The team, dubbed "FC Erdogan" by its fans, has risen rapidly under the strong support of Turkish President Erdogan, and Osl's signing is clearly a step up the ladder.
Osir, who was suspended indefinitely by Fehrenbach in March for disciplinary reasons, was finally released from his contract on Wednesday, and his "unemployment" lasted less than half an hour before he signed a one-year contract (with an option to extend for another year) with another Istanbul side, Başakşuşi. The 33-year-old midfielder has been able to continue playing in Turkey thanks to the patronage of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Founded in 1990, Bashakshushi's chairman, Gammestad, is a Turkish businessman whose wife is a relative of Erdogan. Both are members of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), and Bashakshushi's district is the core area of AKP support in Istanbul province. In fact, Erdogan controls the team behind the scenes, and there is even a large portrait of Erdogan hanging on the training ground.
Ossur's relationship with Erdogan is well known, and a photo of them together at an event in 2018 was heavily criticized by the German media, accusing Ossur of canvassing for the dictatorial president. The incident ultimately led to Osl being at odds with the head coach of the German national team and announcing his retirement from the team. When Ossler got married, Erdogan himself was the best man. Now that Ossler has joined his "good brother's" team, he no longer has to worry about being frozen out!
