Mesut Özil turned down Manchester United, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain to sign a new deal with the Gunners, according to reports.
According to German publication Bild (via Express), Özil had the chance to leave for any of the above clubs before he agreed a new deal with the Gunners. The fact he’s chosen to stay anyway speaks volumes about his commitment to the club.
It’s particularly satisfying to see the 29-year-old prove so many journalists, pundits and former players wrong. Back in October, John Cross wrote that Özil had already told his Arsenal teammates he would sign for Manchester United. The article claimed the playmaker was “making no secret that he is preparing to leave”.
Around the same time, Martin Keown was convinced that Alexis Sanchez was fully committed to Arsenal, and Özil was half out the door already. The former Gunner told BBC Radio 5 Live (via Mirror): “I think he loves playing football, Sanchez. I don’t see there’s an issue with him.
“Özil of the two players, are they going to sign, aren’t they, is the one I wouldn’t trust. I believe he’s not playing tonight because the gaffer really can’t trust him anymore. Last year he went missing for a couple of months and I think that’s his tactic in terms of wanting to get away from the football club.”
Clearly this turned out to be complete nonsense. Arsenal had loads of problems with Sanchez on the pitch in his final months, then he left. Meanwhile Özil has consistently played fantastically and he’s signing a new deal. If he wanted to leave, I’m sure he could’ve done so, but he chose not to.
Even Ian Wright seemed pretty convinced that the German would be better off moving to United. He said earlier this month: “Yes I do (think it would be a good move for the player). I think he is that kind of player. He is not going to drag a team along but if you’re playing well he is going to sprinkle like stardust.”
Since the news of a his extension, I’ve seen plenty of United fans and journalists coming out with the ‘we didn’t want him anyway’ line. That’s clearly not true either, based on comments over the last few months.
Former United defender Rio Ferdinand told BT Sport in December (via football.london): “His pace – he’s deceptively quick. And if you can get that out of him, his ability… He’s a technician and I would take him at Manchester United all day long. A free transfer, no doubts.”
You don’t have to search Twitter for very long to find plenty of fans saying similar things:
@MrStephenHowson do you think Ozil will join United in the summer? I know it has been rumoured but do you think he would come to us? Personally I think he would be great for us
— Callum Bryant (@Callum_Bryant12) January 20, 2018
Mesut Ozil continuing his audition for José Mourinho with a great goal.
— Adam McKola (@AdamMcKola) December 16, 2017
Ozil is just playing for a move to Man Utd with Jose
— Paul Evans (@paulevans46) January 21, 2018
In the end it’s nice to have a player with a bit of loyalty for once. Someone who really isn’t playing for a move, but just wants to win and help Arsenal succeed.