By ’Tayo Amosu
October 10, 2014
Arsenal reportedly refused to sell Mesut Ozil to Bayern Munich this summer as Pep Guardiola, who is an admirer of Ozil’s talent tried to lure the player back home.
This report according to El Confidencial, the Spanish newspaper, claimed that Guardiola aimed to sign Ozil but he refused to meet the North London side’s valuation of the player which is around the amount paid to Madrid for his signature last summer, £42.4m.
The German club’s manager, Guardiola was said to have failed in his attempt at bringing the player to Spain for Barcelona, as the player instead signed for rivals Real Madrid.
Despite the report that Guardiola’s offer for Ozil, was just enough to facilitate a return of former captain, Cesc Fabregas, Arsene Wenger refused to deal.
Last year’s summer transfer window saw Arsene Wenger pulling a Santa Claus on Arsenal fans all over the world by signing Mesut Ozil, the world acclaimed king of assists.
While everyone was in awe that the French manager could break the club’s transfer record and pay £42.5m for Ozil from Real Madrid, the reality of playing in the very physical and fast paced English Premier League was lost on many.
The World Cup winner was just perfect for an Arsenal side that lost Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona in 2011 as his very boisterous credential from his time in Germany and Spain for Real Madrid was very intimidating, creating goals and scoring a handful too.
The success of Ozil in Spain, with Real Madrid may have spurred Guardiola into another try to lure the player to Germany, where he now works as the Bayern Munich manager.
While many Arsenal fans would readily slate Arsene Wenger for not bringing Cesc Fabregas back to the Emirates, many others are of the opinion that Ozil’s class is way above Fabregas’.
However, the decision not to sell Ozil to Bayern Munich, when Fabregas was available may turn around to eat up Arsenal.
Already, the pain and agony faced by many Arsenal supporters when Cesc Fabregas made an assist for Diego Costa to seal the 2-0 loss to Chelsea, is eating up the Gunners.
Now, Mesut Ozil, a record signing for Arsenal has just been reported injured and may be out for up to 3 months and this portends a bad omen for Arsenal.
Also, it would even make more Arsenal supporters regret the fact that Arsene Wenger signed Ozil and kept faith with him instead of Fabregas.
In the three months absence that Ozil would likely face, Cesc Fabregas, if he successfully avoids being injured, would display more spectacles for Chelsea to the envy of many Arsenal fans.
Arsenal plays Hull City, the 2014 FA Cup finalists, after the international break, Sunderland, Burnley and Swansea in the English Premier League and no better time than now is best for Ozil to prove his critics wrong but now he has been injured.
A future move to Bayern Munich is a very achievable possibility but knowing who Arsene Wenger is Ozil would be given enough time to prove himself strong at Arsenal before any move to Bayern Munich surfaces.
Pep Guardiola should try harder next time and should make do with the start studded Bayern Munich side that would always win him laurels.
