Ozil accused of having an Affair with Former Bayern Munich player Christian Lell’s girlfriend

Ex-Bayern Munich defender Christian Lell and Ozil

Mesut Ozil has been accused of having an affair with ex-Bayern Munich defender Christian Lell's girlfriend.

Both players have now split with their partners but German newspaper Bild has published claims that Lell has implicated Arsenal midfielder Ozil in his separation.

Lell alleges that the Gunners man was involved with Melanie Rickinger while he was still in a relationship with her.

Ozil has refused to comment on the allegations.

According to the report Lell has released details of a WhatsApp chat which appears to show Ozil apparently flirting with 24-year-old Rickinger while they were both in relationships with other people.

Lell posted a stream of risqué messages from what he claims is her phone between Rickinger and someone dubbed Mesut Ozil on his now-deleted Facebook page on Tuesday.

The 30-year-old labelled his now-ex a "snake", accusing her of relationships with other footballers alongside several derogatory hashtags including "relationship killer".

Meanwhile Mandy Capristo, in a relationship with Ozil since 2013, has now deleted all photos of the German international from her Facebook and Instagram accounts.

Lell began his career with Bayern making 65 appearances over five years with loan spells away at FC Koln.

In 2010, the defender moved to Hertha BSC before switching to Spain and Levante in 2012.

Ozil moved to north London from Real Madrid in the summer of 2013 but has so far failed to reproduce his impressive Real Madrid and Germany form on a regular basis.

He is the second Gunners star whose private life has hit the headlines in a matter of months.

Earlier this year Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud offered a public apology to his wife Jennifer after denying allegations of an extra-marital affair.