Ozil’s Arsenal future depends on Wenger stay
Print Edition
MESUT Ozil is ready to sign a new contract with Arsenal but the attacking midfielder wants to know if manager Arsene Wenger is staying at the club beyond this season.
Wenger’s contract expires at the end of the current season, while Ozil and teammate Alexis Sanchez both have 18 months left on their deals.
“I feel very, very happy at Arsenal and have let the club know I would be willing to extend. The fans want me to stay, and now it’s only down to the club,” Ozil told German football magazine Kicker.
“The club knows I am here mainly because of Arsene Wenger, who brought me here and whose trust I have. The club also knows that I want clarity about what the manager is doing.”
Ozil, who joined Arsenal in 2013, has been criticized by former Arsenal players including Thierry Henry, who said the German international was “holding the club hostage” with their wage demands.
“Everyone has a right to say what they want, but what they have to say doesn’t interest me,” Ozil said. “Ex-players or other people who have a view don’t know what is actually being said between me and the club.”
Arsenal is fifth in the Premier League with 41 points from 20 games, trailing leader Chelsea by eight points.
Meanwhile, Barcelona coach Luis Enrique has dismissed reports linking midfielder Ivan Rakitic to Manchester City.
“Most of the information in the media is not reliable, be it from Croatia, Spain or England. This has nothing to do with him not being in the squad.”
Rakitic, 28, was a regular starter in his first two seasons at the Nou Camp following a 25 million euro (US$26.31 million) move from Sevilla in 2014, but he has not played a La Liga game since December 3, 2016, although he did start in the 1-2 defeat at Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey last 16 first leg on Thursday. He was left out of the squad for Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Villarreal.
The coach did not shed any light on why he had left the Croatian out, only saying, “You can come to your own conclusions but picking squads and starting lineups is my job.”
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
