Ozil threatens to take legal action over reports of affair with another player's girlfriend

Arsenal star winger Mesut Ozil has reportedly threatened a German tabloid with legal action after it reported that he had an affair with another footballer's girlfriend.

Germany World Cup winner Ozil is reportedly alleged to have cheated on his 24-year-old pop star lover Mandy Capristo with Bayern Munich defender Christian Lell's girlfriend Melanie Rickinger.

A German publication, which carried an interview with Lell in which he made the allegations, also said that both footballers had now split from their girlfriends, The Mirror reported.

Lell had claimed that his break-up with Rickinger was partly as a result of what Ozil had been doing. He said that Ozil exploited his fame, and muscled in on their relationship, adding that that is not OK.

Furious German player Lell also branded Rickinger a snake and a relationship killer. He even claimed that his former girlfriend had exchanged steamy conversations with Ozil on messaging service WhatsApp.

Ozil's girlfriend Capristo moved with him to London 13 months ago when he signed for Arsenal in a club record 42.5 million pounds deal. But the singer has now deleted all photographs of him from her Facebook and Instagram accounts.

Ozil refused to make a statement on the allegations about his love life. His agent Roland Eitel said that they are not commenting on this, and added that they would keep an eye on the situation, and take legal action if necessary.

Ozil, who celebrated his birthday on Wednesday, has been ruled out of action for Arsenal until the New Year because of torn knee ligaments, the report added.