Mesut Ozil has reiterated why he accepted a deadline day summer transfer out of Real Madrid to Arsenal, as Arsene Wenger reveals PSG’s late interest.
The German moved across to the Premier League in a €45m deal on the final day of the summer market, days after Gareth Bale completed a deal to join Los Blancos.
“For me it is very important to have the confidence of a Coach,” Ozil has mused this week to TF1 on his move.
“At the end of last season I was sure I was going to stay in Madrid. But there was a moment where I did not feel that trust. Conversely, I felt it at Arsenal.”
Talking on the same programme on French television, his manager Arsene Wenger reflected on the negotiations.
“The first contact was at my house, so as to be discreet. I believe that Ozil was signed in just 24 hours.
“Paris Saint-Germain were interested but I had the advantage in that three years before, prior to his move to Madrid, we had negotiated for him.
“It was between Madrid and us at the time. He called me and he told me that he had chosen Real, but he told me he would have also liked to come at us.
“That is why I knew and having spoken to him in German, the rest was his decision.”
Wenger also commented on comparisons between Ozil and his idol Zinedine Zidane.
“Ozil has a special quality, he always takes the right decision quickly.
“Ozil is a bit better at dribbling than Zidane. They have a similar form of technical ease and similar humility.”
