German has rejected recent suggestions that he was unprofessional at Real. Check in to Sunderland vs Arsenal
New club-record signing Mesut Ozil says that he moved to Arsenal because he has the “trust” of Gunners head coach Arsene Wenger, unlike at his former club Real Madrid, according to reports in the Daily Mirror.
The hugely talented Germany international completed his surprise £42.4 million transfer to the Emirates in the final hours of transfer deadline day after being frozen out by the Liga giants, with the 24-year-old agreeing an eye-catching five-year contract worth £140,000 per week.
However, Ozil’s departure from the Santiago Bernabeu has caused outrage back in the Spanish capital, especially amongst the Madrid fans, as well as with some of the playmaker’s former team-mates too.
It is understood that Madrid president Florentino Perez gave new manager Carlo Ancelotti an ultimatum: either he keeps Ozil, or Argentina international Angel Di Maria at the club this season, but not both star players though, with the Spanish outfit needing to balance the books following the recent world-record 100m euro capture of Tottenham Hotspur wide man Gareth Bale.
And now following rumours in the Spanish press of late regarding Ozil’s professionalism during his three-year stay at the club, the German has decided to hit back at his former employers, saying: “People know how professional I am and this is what counts. All the rumours, I don’t care about them. I have a new task here. I’m just looking ahead. I am in London now.
“I would have come here without a fee, that wouldn’t have been a problem. The most important thing for me is that the manager trusts me, that I can get trust from him. This was the crucial point for me and this is why I have come here. He trusts me.
“When I spoke to Arsene on the phone, he was full of respect and as a player I need that. I feel that here, that is why I came here. I don’t want to talk about Real Madrid, my time there was great but that topic is over.
“I want to look ahead. I will have wonderful years here, hopefully I will win many trophies and stay healthy and this what I look forward to.
“I’m not disappointed. I’m at Arsenal now, which is one of the biggest clubs in the world. I think I will go my way here. Of course I had a very good time in Madrid. I have lots of friends there and [had] lots of very good moments there.
“You can see by the reaction of the fans and the players that they didn’t understand the move. You always have to look ahead and I’ve made the next step.
“This is something new for me. I’m in the strongest league in the world and have to prove myself here to continue developing here. This is why I am at the right club.”