Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil: I would have joined Gunners for free
Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil says he would have joined the Gunners on a free transfer after sealing his move last Monday
Mesut Ozil has claimed he would have joined Arsenal for free after sealing a club-record move to The Emirates on Monday.
The 24-year-old completed a £42.5m switch to north London from Real Madrid on transfer deadline day, with the Germany international penning a five-year deal with the Gunners.
Ozil was reported to be out-of-favour under new Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti after Los Blancos signed Gareth Bale in a world-record £85.3m deal.
And the former Werder Bremen midfielder revealed Gunners boss Arsene Wenger was a key factor in his decision to leave the Spanish capital and move to Arsenal.
“In some way, that conversation flicked a switch in me and made me realise what I had lost at Madrid – transparency, trust, respect,” Ozil told Die Welt.
“Arsene told me exactly how he saw me, how he wanted to use me, what he expected of me. I would have even joined Arsenal for free.”
Ozil made 71 assists and scored 27 goals during three seasons in the Spanish capital.
