Cesc Fabregas Believes Arsenal Have Signed Real Madrid’s “Second-Best Player”

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Former Gunner admits surprise at “great” Arsenal signing.

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Former Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas admits he is surprised that his former club managed to land Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid, according to Sky Sports.

The German international made a sensational deadline day move to the Emirates Stadium for a club-record fee of over £42m, and Barcelona midfielder Fabregas has expressed his surprise that Real Madrid agreed to sell such a key player.

Ozil spent three years at the Bernabeu after joining the club from Werder Bremen in 2010, and became an influential part of the team’s success, as they won the Copa Del Rey in 2011 and the La Liga title a year later.

However, with this summer’s big-money arrival of Gareth Bale from Tottenham, Ozil’s place in the club’s starting lineup came under threat, leading him to choose a move to the north London side.

Fabregas, who left Arsenal in 2011, believes his old side have signed a “great” player, and admits he was surprised that the Spanish giants agreed to his sale.

“I was really surprised by Ozil’s departure,” the Spaniard said. “He seemed to me the second-best player at Madrid, after Cristiano (Ronaldo).

“He’ll be great for Arsenal.”

Fabregas himself was linked with a departure from Spain this summer, becoming a target for Arsenal’s Premier League rivals Manchester United, though he has once again reaffirmed his desire to see out his career with Barcelona.

“The only thing in my head is triumphing at Barcelona,” he said.

“When I arrived at Barcelona I already knew there were other places where I could earn more or where I could have more minutes, but coming to Barca was my dream.

“It was my dream since I was small. I wouldn’t go, not even for double the money.”

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