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Madrid players dismayed as Ozil is “forced to leave”

By on September 3, 2013

20130903-212436.jpgReal Madrid players have hit back at the club’s decision to sell Mesut Ozil to Arsenal in an astonishing £42.5 million deadline day deal. Despite Gareth Bale joining Madrid for a world-record €100 million fee, key members of Carlo Ancelotti’s side have already voiced their concern over the departure of whom Alvaro Arbeloa, quite correctly, labeled as “a phenomenon.”

Although Madrid’s summer signings of Isco and Asier Illarramendi would certainly have been a cause of competition for Ozil’s attacking midfielder role in Ancelotti’s starting line-up, Sergio Ramos summed up what many Los Blancos fans have been saying, claiming “If I’d had a say in the matter, Ozil would be one of the last players to leave.” Even the 24-year-old himself claimed he was surprised that Madrid pushed him out the door.

“At the weekend I was certain I would stay at Real Madrid but, afterwards, I realized I did not have the faith from the coach or the bosses,” he said in an interview after the transfer. “I am a player who needs this faith and that is what I have felt from Arsenal, which is why I have joined.

Ozil also claimed that Arsene Wenger’s faith in him (which we must assume is immense considering the only other real world-class midfielder he has are Santi Cazorla), played a big part in why he joined Arsenal.

“I am really looking forward to it because I have the faith of the coach,” Ozil told the German Football Federation’s official website. “I had spoken to him (Wenger) at length on the telephone, he explained his plans and that he has faith in me – that is what I need as a player. I am looking forward to the new challenge. I have already heard that they have super fans, the city is great and the team is fantastic.

“Wenger gives me the faith and I can develop further. I know what I can do and I know that I could make the grade with any club in the world because I am so convinced in myself, but if I don’t feel people have faith in me, then that is why I had to leave. At Arsenal, I feel I have this fully. I am sure the new coach is going to develop me further and I am also really looking forward to playing in the Premier League.”

Arsenal were yet to make a major signing during the summer transfer window, much to the disliking of many fans of the Gunners, before their capture of Ozil, which made it an even bigger and more important capture for Wenger. Especially after coming right out of their 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in Sunday’s North London derby, Gooners and Arsenal players alike are confident Ozil can help the club reach even higher heights. Theo Walcott pipped in with his bright views on Ozil, saying: “The likes of Ozil coming into the team will only boost our confidence. He will hopefully bring the best out of the players and I’m personally really looking forward to it. With the amount of assists he has for club and country, it will help my game.

“He is a massive player, someone who has played for Real Madrid and Germany, and he’s only 24 so he’s reaching the top of his game. It will be another big boost to the club after such a great result at the weekend. He has shown it for his club and country for many years now and I think it is an absolutely fantastic signing. Just look at his record and the assists he has got. I played against him for the Under-21s back in 2009 when we lost 4-0 [in the final of the European Championships] and he showed his qualities then. He’s a great addition.”

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.