Mesut Ozil's departure a heartbreak for Real Madrid fans and players

Mesut Ozil

Mesut Ozil signed for Arsenal on transfer deadline day in a move costing the Gunners a club record transfer fee in the region of £42.4 million, but should Real Madrid have sold the German international or kept the playmaker?

Ozil was a regular starter in the Madrid squad over the course of his three-year stay. However, with the arrival of the formidable Gareth Bale from Tottenham Hotspur for a world record transfer fee, his place in the starting eleven looked in doubt.

Ozil was reported to have said that he would like to stay and fight for his place at Santiago Bernabeu whilst the announcement of Bale’s arrival hadn’t been made yet. The confirmation of Bale’s transfer could have led to the German to doubt whether or not he was in the plans of Real Madrid’s new boss Carlo Ancelotti.

Since the departure of Mesut Ozil, a few reports have suggested that not only one, but three or four Real Madrid players are angry, upset and sad with the club’s decision to sell Ozil.

One of them being Cristiano Ronaldo. According to reports, the Portuguese star said, “The sale of Ozil is bad news for me. He was the player who best knew my moves in front of goal. I’m angry about Ozil leaving.”

No wonder Ronaldo is angry, seeing as Ozil has an unbelievable record of creating chances and goal scoring opportunities. Not only were Real Madrid players surprised, but also ex-Arsenal player Cesc Fabregas was stunned by Arsenal’s signing. The Barcelona midfielder told a radio station, “I was really surprised by Ozil’s departure. He seemed to me the second-best player at Madrid after Cristiano.”

The sale of Ozil cost the Gunners in the region of £42.4 million, which is almost half the amount Real Madrid paid for Gareth Bale. As the 24-year-old was sold after Bale’s arrival, this could be seen as Madrid’s way of recuperating a proportion of the record amount spent on the Welsh international.

Ozil signed a five-year deal worth £130,000 a week at the Emirates, making him the highest earner at the London club.

This article was written by Matthew Thoma. You can view his writing regularly on his blog, http://matthewthoma.wordpress.com and also follow him on twitter @MatthewThoma_ .