Guillem Balague replies when asked if Arsenal star Mesut Ozil wants to return to Real Madrid

Guillem Balague has played down the reports suggesting that Mesut Ozil is keen to leave Arsenal and return to Real Madrid.

According to Spanish newspaper Marca, both Ozil and former Manchester United man Angel Di Maria are keen to secure transfers back to The Bernabeu.

Ozil joined Arsenal from Real Madrid in the summer of 2013 and has become one of the Gunners’ top players since his arrival in England.

Di Maria currently plies his trade for Paris Saint-Germain after leaving Manchester United in 2015.

However, Spanish football expert Balague feels it is unlikely that either player will return to Real Madrid and played down the chances of it happening.

Speaking in an interview with Sky Sports, Balague said: “I have heard nothing of the sort, for different reasons.

“Florentino [Perez] was the man that allowed them to leave. In fact, in the case of Di Maria he forced the issue so the Argentinean felt pushed out.

“In the case of Ozil, he did not feel valued at the club and was happy to accept the move to the Premier League. Also, there is a ban in place so Real Madrid have got their hands tied up.”

Ozil finished last season with the highest number of assists in the Premier League as the Gunners ended up without a trophy.

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The German has won the FA Cup twice – in 2014 and 2015 – with Arsene Wenger’s men.