Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil has had the privilege of playing alongside some of the very best players in the world during his short career and he’s named his ultimate XI.
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The playmaker played for La Liga giants Real Madrid before joining the Gunners in the summer of 2013 and also lifted the World Cup with Germany last year.
With the wealth of talent Ozil has played alongside at club and international level, it would have been tough for the 26-year-old to choose just eleven players.
Take a look at his XI that features just one of his current teammates by choice and another because of sympathy:
GK) Iker Casillas
Many have doubted the credential of Casillas in the last 18 months after a string of high-profile mistakes for club and country, but Ozil has named the Real Madrid stopper as the best he’s played in front of.
RB) Philipp Lahm
No surprise to see Ozil’s former captain at international level make the team and Lahm has consistently been one of the best players in the world in the last decade and has proven he can do it in midfield too.
The pair celebrated reaching the pinnacle of any professional footballer by lifting the World Cup together last summer.
CB) Sergio Ramos
If rumours are to be believed then Ozil could face his former Madrid teammate in the Premier League this season [via Metro Sport] . It’s not a shock to see Ramos make this team given how close he and the German were at the Santiago Bernabeu.
CB) Jerome Boateng
Barring being embarrassed by Lionel Messi in the Champions League semi-final at the Camp Nou last season, Boateng has been one of the best defenders in Europe over the past two years and deservedly makes Ozil’s ultimate XI.
LB) Marcelo
Another one of Ozil’s former Real Madrid teammates makes the ultimate XI and the pair enjoyed success together as they were a part of the squad that clinched the Liga BBVA title in 2012.
CM) Xabi Alonso
Many players that have played alongside the former Liverpool man would name him in their own ultimate XI and Ozil is no different.
He and Alonso worked brilliantly in tandem as they helped Los Blancos secure the league title in Spain in the 2011-12 campaign.
CM) Santi Cazorla
The sole Arsenal representative by choice in this XI is the Spanish midfield maestro Santi Cazorla. The understanding between the pair was on show during the Gunners’ strong end to last season and supporters of the North London outfit will be hoping for more of the same next season.
AMC) Serge Gnabry
Ozil admitted that he included his compatriot because he was sitting in the room alongside him whilst picking the team.
The young German missed the whole of last season through injury, but did show glimpses of his talent for the Gunners during the 2013-14 season and could well be in Ozil’s ultimate XI ten years from now…
AMR) Angel Di Maria
On the right-wing, Ozil chose another of his former Los Blancos teammates to recreate the front three that won the La Liga title in 2012.
AML) Cristiano Ronaldo
The inclusion of the Portuguese superstar was a no brainier given how devastating their partnership was at Real Madrid. A huge portion of Ronaldo’s goals between 2010 and 2013 often came via an assist from the German as the pair developed a telepathic understanding.
ST) Karim Benzema
Ozil described Benzema as ‘a complete striker’ when explaining Benzema’s inclusion, is that a hint to manager Arsene Wenger to sign his former Madrid teammate this summer?
Benzema has been linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium this summer and a reunion with a player who knows his game inside out could be on the cards, if reports in Metro Sport are to be believed.
Listen to Ozil explain his choices in full in the video below: