Germany midfielder Mesut Ozil has announced his retirement from international football with immediate effect in a statement on Twitter, saying he feels “unwanted” by the national team.

The Arsenal man was fiercely criticised as Germany crashed out of the World Cup at the group stage, while a photograph he posed for with Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan ahead of the tournament led to his loyalty to Joachim Low’s side being questioned.

Ozil, who is of mixed German and Turkish heritage, said on Sunday night that he and his family had received hate mail, threatening phone calls and social media abuse.

In a statement on Twitter he wrote: “The treatment I have received from the DFB (German Football Association) and many others makes me no longer want to wear the German national team shirt.

“I feel unwanted and think that what I have achieved since my international debut in 2009 has been forgotten.”