Spanish football expert (sort of), Guillem Balague, has confirmed that Mesut Ozil will NOT be returning to his former club, Real Madrid.

The playmaker was linked with a La Liga return because… well no one’s really sure. The 28-year-old failed to rule it out recently but that was just diplomatic football-talk. I don’t think anyone actually took it seriously.

“Return to Madrid? You never know,” he told Marca.

“Zidane was my idol; as a child, I always wanted to be like him on the field.”

Regardless, during a Twitter Q & A, Balague confirmed that not only do Real Madrid not want Ozil back but he doesn’t want to return either.

“No,” Balague confirmed.

“Mesut Ozil is not keen to re-join Real Madrid, partly because Real don’t want him either. They were happy to let him go for the price he went, and they are not looking for that type of player.”

Good.

Ozil currently has 18 months left on his Arsenal contract and the club are seemingly trying to tie him down to a new, improved deal. Although negotiations appear to be going positively, the German international will be well-briefed on what he should and shouldn’t say during interviews.

By telling Marca recently that he wouldn’t rule out a return to Real simply makes him seem aloof and gives his team more to bargain with.

Football politics, eh?