New Arsenal signing felt unwanted at Real.
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Arsenal’s new signing Mesut Ozil has revealed that he decided to leave Real Madrid as he did not feel wanted at the club, according to Sky Sports.
The German international had been a key player for the Spanish giants since arriving from Werder Bremen in 2010, emerging as one of the best attacking midfielders in the world in Real’s star-studded squad.
However, with the big-money signings of the likes of Gareth Bale and Isco this summer, Ozil’s place in the side came under threat, and it seems he did not feature in the plans of new manager Carlo Ancelotti.
Although the 24-year-old admitted he thought he would be staying at the club, he revealed how a conversation with the manager and other senior staff at the club convinced him that the time was right to leave, as he felt they did not have full faith in him.
“At the weekend, I was certain that I would stay at Real Madrid,” he explained.
“But afterwards I realised that I did not have the faith from the coach or the bosses.”
Ozil added that he felt far more positive when speaking to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger about his plans, as well as his desire to have him at the club.
“I am a player who needs this faith and that is what I have felt from Arsenal, which is why I have joined,” he said.
“I am really looking forward to it because I have the faith of the coach. I had spoken to him at length on the telephone, he explained his plans and that he has faith in me – that is what I need as a player.”
Ozil’s £42.m transfer fee makes him the most expensive Arsenal player of all time, and is also the highest fee Real Madrid have ever received for a player.