‘Mesut Ozil Wanted To Leave For Arsenal’

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti says Mesut Ozil’s summer move to Arsenal was driven by the player’s desire to leave.

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The Gunners left it late to wrap up the kind of deal their supporters have been crying out for – with a £40million-plus transfer completed on deadline day.

Their gain is considered to be Real’s considerable loss, with Ozil having shown during a three-year spell in La Liga that he is among the world’s most creative talents.

Real supporters did not want him to leave, even as they prepared to toast the arrival of Gareth Bale, and Ancelotti claims he also hoped to see the Germany international stay.

In the end, there was little the Italian could do to prevent a sale, with Ozil having taken the decision to go in pursuit of regular football in England rather than battle for a starting berth in Spain.

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.