Mesut Ozil clarifies January transfer position
Mesut Ozil is not intending to go anywhere in January and wants to see out his Arsenal contract. Multiple clubs have been linked with a loan move for the 30-year-old following his ostracisation by Unai Emery.
The playmaker has started just the one league game this season and his career at the Emirates looks very shaky. Dani Ceballos is prefered by Unai Emery and Ozil has found himself falling down the pecking order.
For his part, Emery has been trying to offload the German almost since he arrived in North London. The big problem remains Ozil’s £350k per week wages.
Going nowhere
Speaking to the Athletic Ozil made it clear where he stands on leaving Arsenal in the winter.
‘No. I have a contract until the summer of 2021 and I will be staying until then.
‘When I signed the new deal, I thought about it very carefully and said it was one of the most important decisions of my footballing career. I didn’t want to stay for just one or two more years, I wanted to commit my future to Arsenal and the club wanted me to do the same.
‘You can go through difficult times, like this, but that is no reason to run away and I’m not going to. I’m here until at least 2021.
‘I said that Arsene Wenger was a big factor in me joining Arsenal — and he was — but ultimately I signed for the club. Even when Arsene announced he was leaving, I wanted to stay because I love playing for Arsenal and that’s why I’ve been here for six years.
‘When I moved from Real Madrid, it was a really tough time for Arsenal. But I always believed in what we could do and together we delivered. More recently things have been difficult and a lot has changed. But I’m proud to be an Arsenal player, a fan and I’m happy here. Whenever people see me in the street I always say, ‘This is my home’. I’m going nowhere.’
That is fairly unambiguous, Ozil is staying put and there is no chance of a loan move.
You have to give credit to the German, he is at least showing the right attitude and is prepared to fight for his place.
That said, £350k per week is also very difficult to walk away from.