BELLERIN SUPPORTS OZIL AFTER GERMANY RETIREMENT

         

The Spanish full-back applauded his team-mate for standing up for himself amid the constant criticism surrounding his national team performances Hector Bellerin has praised Arsenal team-mate Mesut Ozil for speaking out about the issues that prompted his international retirement. Ozil ended his Germany career on Sunday, confirming his decision in a series of social media statements that criticised the media and German FA president Reinhard Grindel. The playmaker, who has been at the centre of a storm surrounding the photo he took with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan in May, claimed he was made a scapegoat for his country's poor World Cup performance due to his Turkish roots. The criticism surrounding the 29-year-old has only increased, as Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness added to the heat with his comments on Monday, but Bellerin showed his support. The Spanish full-back posted a message on Twitter saying his team-mate deserved some respect. "Surreal that someone who has done so much for his country on and off the pitch has been treated with such disrespect," Bellerin wrote. "Well done Mesut Ozil for standing up to this behaviour!" The criticism surrounding the 29-year-old has only increased, as Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness added to the heat with his comments on Monday, but Bellerin showed his support. The Spanish full-back posted a message on Twitter saying his team-mate deserved some respect. "Surreal that someone who has done so much for his country on and off the pitch has been treated with such disrespect," Bellerin wrote. "Well done Mesut Ozil for standing up to this behaviour!"