Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that Mesut Ozil wanted to leave the Spanish club this summer because he didn’t trust the new manager would pick him frequently.
The German international left the Spanish giants on transfer deadline day in order to join Premier League side Arsenal for a record club fee of £43million in a move that shook the football world.
The move was a shock to many as over the years, Ozil has become known as the best number-10 footballer as the German can provide assists as well as score goals for both club and country, but Madrid’s loss is Arsenal’s gain and he showed that during his debut on Saturday against Sunderland when he grabbed an assist just 11-minutes into the game.
However, Ancelotti has revealed that the club had no choice but to sell the midfield-man as he wanted to leave.
Ancelotti told L’Equipe: “At great clubs there are two ways to react to competition: either you stay to fight for your position or you leave.
“Mamadou Sakho talked to me early last season (during his time at Paris St Germain) and I warned him that he would have to fight to play, and he said he would do that.
“Ozil preferred to leave. He said he left the club because he didn’t feel trust. But he never came to talk to me. Before the international break we played three matches, he played two in the starting XI and he didn’t play the last one because of transfer rumours.”
Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt
