adminLONDON. – Mesut Özil has revealed a telephone call from Arsene Wenger convinced him to leave Real Madrid for Arsenal. Arsenal smashed their transfer record to sign attacking midfielder Özil on transfer deadline day last week in a £42.5million deal. In an interview with German newspaper Die Welt, Ozil admitted that Wenger called him personally to convince the attacking midfielder that he should join the Gunners, while speaking in perfect German.
Özil had initially pledged to stay at Real this summer after being linked with a move away from the Bernabeu in the wake of Gareth Bale’s arrival.
However, Wenger was able to convince Özil to swap Real for the Emirates Stadium after winning him over with his plans for the 24-year-old.
“Somehow this telephone call just flicked a switch in me,” Özil told Die Welt.
“I thought: ‘What he is telling me is what I have missed at Real: transparency, trust, respect.’
“He told me exactly how he sees me [as a player], how he wants to use me, what he expects from me and what he hopes I will contribute.”
Özil also played down the expectation that might be placed upon him after Arsenal broke the bank to land the Germany international.
“The transfer fee has nothing to do with me.
“I would have joined Arsenal on a free,” added Özil.
The 24-year-old, who has won 48 caps for Germany since making his debut in 2009, reiterated that he is desperate to help Arsenal end a trophy-less run that stretches eight years.
“I want to win titles and will do everything in order to do that. That is my mentality.”- Sky Sports.
Online Reporter