Mesut Özil

This belongs to the Real Madrid soap opera thread really, but it's supposed to be why Madrid sold him. Read if you like, or skip if you hate soap opera and speculation, based on Spanish media reports.

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The Real Madrid fans are still upset about this one and it's probably going to mean Bale gets a tougher ride rather than an easier one. Coentrao they don't care about. Di Maria there were willing to lose. Ozil? No. He's a fan favourite and popular with his teammates.

So why did RM do it? Well his dad is his agent. The first time I heard this family agent thing I thought how nice an idea it was. What I now realise is that dads are dangerous. They've got one client to obsess over, spend time on and earn as much as they can from. They also don't hear business or sporting rationale, just the single minded needs of a single player (or his family)

Three years to run on his contract, he wanted to renegotiate - to a Ronaldo sort of wage packet. Madrid said the numbers are too high and the timing's wrong. After all they let Ronaldo's contract run down to 2 years, why should Ozil be treated that much better.

His dad is alleged to have then instructed a fleet of mini-agents/freelance agents working on commission to try and get him some transfer offers and he told his son that the club didn't love him anymore.

Ozil, being a sensitive soul, listened to his dad and started to look for signs that he was being squeezed out. Isco and Bale were the obvious threats and Ozil sulked. Instead of rising to meet the competition he worried about where he was going to fit in.

With Ozil's dad pissing off everybody in Madrid's management by trying to sell their player too brazenly, Ancelotti didn't bother with too many reassurances. Ozil sulked some more and let his dad start selling him in earnest. When it came to the crunch the actual offers his fleet of agents came back with were disappointing.

The Arsenal deal was the best one financially and the one where he was getting the most enthusiastic management promises. Still he dithered on actually signing the contract (in case someone like United :devil: or Real Madrid themselves came back with better offers) but in the end his dad got what he wanted, a new deal for his one client and Ozil got enough love to go to Arsenal.

All allegedly of course.
 
The Ozil signing is a statement of intent, without doubt I see more players wanting to jump on the Arsenal bandwagon... I don't see them being big hitters this season but for 2014/15, if they can strengthen their weak areas... bring in Begovic, some quality defenders, a holding midfielder, a better right winger and a world class striker then they'll be contenders, but erm thats like an entire team... but yeah 5 signings away imo from being a complete side... thing is fortunately for them none of the other big sides are as complete as say the United side of 07/08 or the old Chelsea side, thus they're probably only a few signings away from being title contenders.
 
This is the season when Arsenal could have actually challenged for the title. The top 3 have different managers so it might take some time to gel. Tottenham have a new squad with so many foreigners so they need time to get used to the league. If they had spent an extra £30-40m (easier said than done), they could have been title challengers this season itself.
 
Raees said:
The Ozil signing is a statement of intent, without doubt I see more players wanting to jump on the Arsenal bandwagon... I don't see them being big hitters this season but for 2014/15, if they can strengthen their weak areas... bring in Begovic, some quality defenders, a holding midfielder, a better right winger and a world class striker then they'll be contenders, but erm thats like an entire team... but yeah 5 signings away imo from being a complete side... thing is fortunately for them none of the other big sides are as complete as say the United side of 07/08 or the old Chelsea side, thus they're probably only a few signings away from being title contenders.
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I thinking they should have brought in a new GK. Schzeny is good but they need a top class keeper in either Begovic or even Cesar. I think QPR must have been desperate to get him out due to his high wages. The former would have cost closer to £15m but Cesar they could have gotten for around £10m or even less. Striker, yeah they were trying hard with Suarez and to a certain extent with Rooney.
 
RDCR07 said:
I thinking they should have brought in a new GK. Schzeny is good but they need a top class keeper in either Begovic or even Cesar. I think QPR must have been desperate to get him out due to his high wages. The former would have cost closer to £15m but Cesar they could have gotten for around £10m or even less. Striker, yeah they were trying hard with Suarez and to a certain extent with Rooney.
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Begovic, Gustavo, Nani - I'd have signed alongside Ozil... and then given myself more time to bring in a world class or potentially world class defender and a forward. I think Suarez would've been ideal but clearly was unrealistic (kind of like our Cesc saga) and Higuain was slightly overpriced and in hindsight, he and Ozil is not dynamic enough... they need a Suarez/Aguero type to complement Ozil and provide pace and penetration.

I don't know if Lewandowski is still available but if he is, they should push the boat out for him next summer/january.
 
jojojo said:
This belongs to the Real Madrid soap opera thread really, but it's supposed to be why Madrid sold him. Read if you like, or skip if you hate soap opera and speculation, based on Spanish media reports.
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Or that's Perez's smear tactics...'Özil's sale to Arsenal has caused a lot more bother than Florentino would have expected.The squad, led by vice-captain Sergio Ramos, and the fans have all made their displeasure felt. In our survey, 66.3% of fans said they disagreed with the move. The discontent will only grow with the news (which the club, lying through their teeth, tried to deny on Monday) that they rejected an offer for Khedira. Khedira is a good, efficient player, but no-one is pleased he is staying. For him, Madrid could have got the money they ended up earning from the sale of Özil (the club needed the money after breaking the bank to sign Bale). The decision is like selling a violin and holding on to a drum.
Ancelotti's move made sense in a way. The squad he has fits together well, with two players for each position: Khedira and Casemiro in defensive midfield, Xabi Alonso and Illarramendi ahead of them, with Isco and Modric the attacking midfielders. On the wings on one side there's Di María and Bale and on the other Cristiano and Jesé. Every position in defence is well covered, and let's not even talk about the goalkeeper situation. Up front, we have Benzema and Morata. That's quite a team. But the departure of Özil still hurts, you can tell. This is a player who the fans loved. And Cristiano saw him as his perfect partner on the pitch. Therefore, the arrival of Bale has left a stain.
Florentino made an ugly gesture during Bale's presentation, putting his finger to his mouth, to silence fans chanting Özil's name (it was the most watched video on As.com yesterday), a sign that something wasn't right. Perhaps Özil's place in the team was threatened more by Isco than by Bale, and maybe it's true that sometimes Özil gives up on the pitch. But given the offer for Khedira was for the same amount, Madrid could have still made the money and held on to Özil. Watching Modric play in a deeper role this season, the one he was used to at Tottenham, many fans envisage a pairing of Xabi Alonso-Modric. Viewed that way, keeping Khedira instead of Özil, preferring the violin to the drum, has grated with many people. And they are not hiding it'.
 
Archie Leach said:
I'm surprised one third of fans were happy with the sale.

How you could turn down an offer of 42.5m for Khedira and accept for Ozil blows my mind. But I'm so glad they did.
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Im pretty sure the sum for Khedira for made up. No one in their right minds would offer 40m for him.
 
Yeah, there's no way that figure is correct. I reckon half that amount would make sense.
 
According to that Henry Winter piece we were offered Özil three weeks ago for substantially less than what Arsenal paid. This transfer window really is the gift that just keeps on giving.
 
Raees said:
The Ozil signing is a statement of intent, without doubt I see more players wanting to jump on the Arsenal bandwagon... I don't see them being big hitters this season but for 2014/15, if they can strengthen their weak areas... bring in Begovic, some quality defenders, a holding midfielder, a better right winger and a world class striker then they'll be contenders, but erm thats like an entire team... but yeah 5 signings away imo from being a complete side... thing is fortunately for them none of the other big sides are as complete as say the United side of 07/08 or the old Chelsea side, thus they're probably only a few signings away from being title contenders.
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:lol:
Ozil's signing is a first (great) step for Arsenal, I just hope that it won't delude their fans into thinking too big too quickly and therefore be disappointed at the end of the season.
 
kouroux said:
:lol:
Ozil's signing is a first (great) step for Arsenal, I just hope that it won't delude their fans into thinking too big too quickly and therefore be disappointed at the end of the season.
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TBF they've been patient for years and I think just having Ozil there will give them that extra patience that yes we are still capable of building something here and the rot which has set in i.e. players leaving every year is going to stop. I reckon they'll be good for another couple of years yet before the Wenger out chants begin...

I can't see United having the same levels of patience with Moyes if he was to go as long trophyless, nor would I want us to be as patient... high standards as fans is important, forces the club to stay on its toes and ensure the focus is on maintaining the club as a footballing force to be reckoned with.
 
LR7 said:
According to that Henry Winter piece we were offered Özil three weeks ago for substantially less than what Arsenal paid. This transfer window really is the gift that just keeps on giving.
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Considering they sold Higuain for £34mill, how much less than the £42mill they got would he have been 'allegedly' offered for?

Vato1979 said:
He's been excellent so far but you see this often in players who just joined a new team, let's hope he can keep it up because he has big shoes to fill.
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Do you think he will match Ozil's creative impact?

Also another question as you've seen him more than others what would you say Ozil's weakness are? Also in the Madrid side how would you compare him to Di Maria and do you think the players would of been as upset if he left?
 
If Bale flops and Ozil goes on to be a success, the ground beneath Perez feet will get very hot, and rightly so.
 
LR7 said:
According to that Henry Winter piece we were offered Özil three weeks ago for substantially less than what Arsenal paid. This transfer window really is the gift that just keeps on giving.
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That is when we first heard the murmurs of a 40 million euro bid. Would have made sense too if Rooney had left.
 
JazzG said:
Do you think he will match Ozil's creative impact?

Also another question as you've seen him more than others what would you say Ozil's weakness are? Also in the Madrid side how would you compare him to Di Maria and do you think the players would of been as upset if he left?
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Well, if Isco continues how he started then I think he might become at least as good as Ozil, but that is a big if.

Ozil's weakness? No idea mate, maybe his fitness? Altough I don't think it's as bad as people make out anyway.

Di Maria is more of a typical winger IMO, he has more pace and a better dribble but Ozil has a much better eye (excuse the pun) for a pass and better decision making. His link up play with Ronaldo was also the best in the team, by far.

Would the players be as upset if Di Maria left? Hard to say, I personally think not altough Ronaldo had asked the board a few weeks ago not to sell him. Maybe he should have done the same for Ozil...

I'm by no means an expert at rating players, Skorenzy or jojojo will give you a more accurate view on this than myself, without a doubt.
 
peterstorey said:
Or that's Perez's smear tactics...
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There's no doubt about that. Madrid have a tradition of briefing against their players, preparing the fans with tales of night clubs, greed or slacking off.

The Ozil story is incomplete of course. The what we knows:
- He was hoping to sign a new contract this summer (but for how much?)
- His dad briefed agents to look for options (to move or just to pressurise Madrid?)
- The agents thought they had interest from United (amongst others) in July
- The club asked Ozil to publicly clarify his position, he chose not to (Di Maria and Khedira did go public denying the July rumours)
- It's thought (not known) that he finally didn't want to leave, but by the time he said it Ancelotti was already choosing between him (looking uncomfortable about competition) and Di Maria (who seemed to have raised his game in response to it)

Of course, if it was all about "can't handle competition" Benzema would have gone rather than Higuain. But Benzema is Perez's pet, he couldn't lose him and Kaka.

In any event the fans are definitely upset and so are the players. Will Bale will be the one who pays?

However, Ozil: smashing player, grace and guile and on his day an absolute nightmare when it comes to finding the right pass. Arsenal will love him to bits.
 
:lol:

Let it all out Pete, all the pent up anger from previous transfer windows, this must be so therapeutic for you right now.
 
Vato1979 said:
Ozil's weakness? No idea mate, maybe his fitness? Altough I don't think it's as bad as people make out anyway.
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I don't think his fitness was the issue in the end - thought it was at times in his first 18 months there.

The issue with Ozil was always how the formation with Ozil at #10 adapted under pressure. He wasn't that good at being the link man between a struggling midfield and the attackers. When they moved him wide to let a midfield three play he wasn't as good a winger as Di Maria. If you can sort out the formation to bring out the best in him he'll be great.

At Arsenal I think Wenger can do that. At Madrid, Ancelotti's got his work cut out trying to fit Bale and Ronaldo in.
 
I can still hardly believe that Arsenal have Ozil. No disrespect to Arsenal but I can't understand how the rest of Europe have let this happen! Say what you want about him fading in games but he is an outstanding player for a 24 year old.

Real Madrid...Christ. Isco looks a better player than I originally had him down as but it's amazing that any team would sell a player of Ozil's quality.
 
The Madrid press seem to be sticking the knife in to make him look bad because their fans/players aren't happy he got sold.
 
KingEric7 said:
I can still hardly believe that Arsenal have Ozil. No disrespect to Arsenal but I can't understand how the rest of Europe have let this happen! Say what you want about him fading in games but he is an outstanding player for a 24 year old.

Real Madrid...Christ. Isco looks a better player than I originally had him down as but it's amazing that any team would sell a player of Ozil's quality.
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All I can say is thank you Real for doing these crazy things.
 
“Arsene told me exactly how he saw me, how he wanted to use me, what he expected of me,” Ozil told Die Welt.
“In some way, that conversation flicked a switch in me and made me realise what I had lost at Madrid - transparency, trust, respect.
“I would have even joined Arsenal for free.”

:drool:
 
Archie Leach said:
“Arsene told me exactly how he saw me, how he wanted to use me, what he expected of me,” Ozil told Die Welt.
“In some way, that conversation flicked a switch in me and made me realise what I had lost at Madrid - transparency, trust, respect.
“I would have even joined Arsenal for free.”

:drool:
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Does any player at that circus possess them? even Ronaldo would probably get stick if he stopped scoring for two games.
 
:drool:


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Archie Leach said:
“Arsene told me exactly how he saw me, how he wanted to use me, what he expected of me,” Ozil told Die Welt.
“In some way, that conversation flicked a switch in me and made me realise what I had lost at Madrid - transparency, trust, respect.
“I would have even joined Arsenal for free.”

:drool:
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Easy to say now. I suppose hell be donating all his wages to charity then?
 
Archie Leach said:
“Arsene told me exactly how he saw me, how he wanted to use me, what he expected of me,” Ozil told Die Welt.
“In some way, that conversation flicked a switch in me and made me realise what I had lost at Madrid - transparency, trust, respect.
“I would have even joined Arsenal for free.”

:drool:
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Arsenal are suckers then. Spend a record fee on a player they could have gotten free.
 
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