Mesut Ozil doesn’t look like a Man United signing under Jose Mourinho, claims ex-striker
Former Arsenal striker Alan Smith questions whether Jose Mourinho would really want Mesut Ozil at Manchester United
Alan Smith doesn’t believe Mesut Ozil is a Jose Mourinho player despite Manchester United’s reported interest in the Arsenal midfielder.
The Germany international’s future has been the source of relentless debate over the past 12 months or so since contract negotiations with Arsenal stalled.
Indeed, Ozil has little over six months remaining on his current Arsenal deal and the World Cup winner will be free to sign a pre-contractual agreement with interested clubs next month.
Arsenal could lose the attacking midfielder for nothing next summer unless the FA Cup holders decide to sell Ozil for a cut-price fee in the January transfer window.
The Gunners midfielder has been linked with a controversial move to title rivals Manchester United after he worked with Mourinho for three seasons at Real Madrid.
However, former Arsenal striker Smith has poured cold water on talk of Manchester United bringing Ozil to Old Trafford given his fractious relationship with the Portuguese coach.
“Yeah reportedly (Manchester United want him), I just can’t see that link. I might be totally wrong here but Mourinho and Ozil?” Smith told Sky Sports News on Friday morning.
“I know they were together at Real Madrid but Jose Mourinho really got stuck into him there didn’t he, after one match particularly saying ‘oh you think you’re better than everybody else, you don’t want to track back’.
“These were his reported words and he doesn’t seem to me like a Mourinho player. But we shall see on that one, who knows?”
Manchester United signed Arsenal captain Robin van Persie in a £24m deal in the 2012 summer transfer window.
The Netherlands international scored 26 goals in 38 games in the Premier League to win the title in Sir Alex Ferguson’s final season in charge.
