Former Arsenal and Germany star Mesut Ozil has opened up on his decision between Real Madrid and Barcelona at the peak of his powers.
When the playmaker was preparing to leave Werder Bremen in 2010 there were two key options. Either he could join Barcelona, Champions League winners in 2009 and managed by Pep Guardiola, or he could head to a Real Madrid side with Jose Mourinho in the dugout after the Portuguese's heroics with Inter Milan.
Ultimately, Ozil chose the team from the Spanish capital, spending three years in Madrid before joining Arsenal. The Gelsenkirchen-born star hung up his boots this week at the age of 34, and has opened up about that big decision from more than a decade ago.
"That was a decision between Real Madrid and Barcelona. And in the end it was not a matter of money," Ozil told Marca. "I don't know if this is known, but I visited Madrid and Barcelona at that time and the difference was José Mourinho.
"Mou gave me a VIP visit to Real Madrid. He took me to see the stadium and all the trophies they had won. That gave me goosebumps. The visit in Barcelona was less enthusiastic and what was more disappointing is that Pep Guardiola didn't bother to meet me.
"Before that trip I really liked Barcelona's style of football and I could really imagine playing with them, but Madrid went all out. So José Mourinho was without a doubt the most important factor in my decision. After my visits, my decision was one hundred percent clear: I wanted to be a Madridista."
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Ozil played more than 150 times for Real Madrid, but only won one league title with the club and never got further than the semi-finals of the Champions League. The former Schalke man left for Arsenal in 2013, not long after Mourinho left the Bernabeu, and spent the best part of a decade in London before ending his career in Turkey.
"Hello everyone, After thoughtful consideration, I'm announcing my immediate retirement from professional football," Ozil said in his retirement statement.
"I've had the privilege to be a professional football player for almost 17 years now and I feel incredibly thankful for the opportunity. But in recent weeks and months, having also suffered some injuries, it's become more and more clear that it's time to leave the big stage of football.
"It has been an amazing journey filled with unforgettable moments and emotions. I want to thank my clubs - Schalke 04, Werder Bremen, Real Madrid, Arsenal FC, Fenerbahce, Basaksehir and the coaches who supported me, plus team-mates who have become friends.
"Special thanks must go to my family members and my closest friends. They have been a part of my journey from day one and have given me so much love and support, through the good times and the bad. Thank you to all my fans who have shown me so much love no matter the circumstances and no matter which club I was representing.
"Now I'm looking forward to everything that is in front of me with my beautiful wife, Amine, and my two beautiful daughters, Eda and Ela - but you can be sure that you will hear from me from time to time on my social media channels. See you soon, Mesut!"
