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The collective eyebrows of the footballing world were raised when Arsenal completed the £42.4 million signing of Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid on transfer deadline day last summer.
Not due to the size of the fee, partly due to Arsene Wenger’s willingness to spend, but mainly because so few could believe that the Spanish giants, even for such a hefty fee, had allowed the German international to leave the club.
The midfielder was widely regarded as one the most accomplished players in European football, having burst onto the scene with Schalke and Werder Bremen before being whisked away to the Bernabeu.
Even Cristiano Ronaldo lamented the decision to let Ozil depart, which was unsurprising given the sheer amount of through balls and assists he had laid on for the superstar during the time they spent with each other on the pitch.
However, it was the deal that took Gareth Bale to the Spanish capital that eclipsed the fee paid for Ronaldo that spelt the end of Ozil’s career. The Tottenham Hotspur forward’s world record deal meant that, as has frequently been the case given their transfer market strategy, Madrid were beginning to stock pile outstanding midfielders.
Questions were asked as to why it was Ozil, above all others, that was ushered towards an exit. One man that was also touted as a potential departure as Bale’s presence directly threatened his place in the team was Angel Di Maria.
There were a number of interested parties and he looked destined for pastures new. The Argentine had never been placed on a pedestal like Ozil had been and his exit would have gone under the radar somewhat.
However, manager Carlo Ancelotti convinced the 26-year-old winger that he still had a part to play in Madrid’s team and Di Maria agreed to stay put. Although his intentions appeared to show little logic with Ozil widely regarded to be the bigger talent, it has proven to be a shrewd move by the Italian coach.
While Ozil began his career in north London in blistering fashion, he soon fell into a rut that he has not yet managed to climb out from back onto level ground. The 25-year-old seemed ill-equipped for the physical nature of the Premier League, possibly hinting to an inclination to rest on his laurels in Spain, where players are readily offered protection by the officials.
His body language was poor and he showed little to no interest or willingness to fight for the team. Per Mertesacker was furious with his compatriot when Ozil turned his back on Arsenal’s away support after a disappointing display against Manchester City and headed straight down the tunnel with no acknowledgement.
The Gunners’ fans quickly found out that although Ozil is supremely gifted, his arrival was not the match made in heaven that many had made it out to be. Failure from the penalty spot against Bayern Munich in the Champions League was a new low and Ozil was bereft of all confidence.
Having provided 13 assists in the 2013/14 campaign Ozil slumped to 9 during his debut season in England despite playing a slightly higher number of minutes.
Meanwhile in Madrid, Di Maria has undergone a resurgence in form and up turn in fortunes. Predominantly a winger with an over reliance on his left foot at the start of the season his opportunities in Los Blancos’ attacking trio were slim. However, with Bale suffering from injuries in the early days of his stint in Spain Di Maria stepped up to the plate.
So much so Ancelotti was reluctant to drop him from the side when he had the benefit of a fully fit squad from which to choose. As such, the Argentine was given a more central midfield role in a deeper position and new facets of his game began to emerge.
No longer primarily an attack, he displayed fine defensive capabilities and an eagerness to fight for the greater good of the team. Such an attribute is not always on show, or necessarily valued at Madrid, but his reputation has been enhanced due to the commitment he displayed. With 34 La Liga appearances, Karim Benzema was the only player to have managed more all season.
His powerful runs from deep and ability to pick a pass have found new uncharted levels. Di Maria created 90 chances for his side this season and managed a total of 17 assists, the highest tally of any player in Europe’s top five leagues.
There is no room for passengers in most teams but with an assembly of Galacticos’, exceptions have to be made. Ronaldo has to be indulged but Di Maria has shown he is willing to do the hard work in order for the team to benefit.
His former team mate Ozil was found lacking on the big occasions for the north Londoners this season, as were most of his team mates. He is no talisman, capable of leading his side and pushing them on. Di Maria can provide such a presence, with his strong energetic runs able to lift the whole team.
While Ozil often cuts a lacklustre figure when his team falls behind, it is up for debate as to whether he would have stood up to be counted when Madrid fell behind to fierce rivals Atletico during the Champions League final.
However, the man Ancelotti chose to retain produced a scintillating display that ended in a stunning comeback.
Only now, with the last ball of the campaign kicked has Ancelotti’s decision been brought into focus, but it could well have been the difference between La Decima and remaining stuck, tantalisingly close, on number nine for yet another year.
