Spurs chairman attempted to hijack Ozil’s Arsenal move.
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Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy tried to persuade Real Madrid not to sell Mesut Ozil to Arsenal last night, according to El Confidencial.
The German international became Arsenal’s record signing when he made a late switch to the Emirates Stadium for £42.4m, capping a great end to the summer transfer window for the Gunners.
Spurs themselves have been busy this summer, enjoying access to considerable funds due to the world-record sale of Gareth Bale to Real Madrid, though the lucrative sale of the Welshman may have also helped Arsenal succeed in luring Ozil away from the Bernabeu.
The 24-year-old has said that he felt under-appreciated by the Spanish giants, and was glad to seal a move to Arsenal where the management had shown a strong desire to sign him, and Bale’s arrival in Madrid would certainly have increased competition for places in Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
However, Levy was keen to make a special request that Real would not allow Ozil to join their rivals, pointing to a partnership agreed by the two clubs following the transfer of Luka Modric last summer.
These pleas were unsuccessful, however, as Real looked to bring in some money following the enormous investment in Bale, allowing Ozil to move to the Premier League giants.