Ozil snubbed 'crazy' £1m-a-week offer for Arsenal stay
Mesut Ozil snubbed “crazy offers” from Asia in order to stay at Arsenal, claims his agent Dr Erkut Sogut, with it suggested that a £1 million-a-week approach was made.
The German playmaker saw his future with the Gunners called into question during the 2017-18 campaign as his contract ran down.
He entered the final six months of that agreement before committing to fresh terms that are set to keep him in north London until 2021.
The 30-year-old had several opportunities to leave prior to penning that deal, with Sogut revealing that more money could have been made had Ozil headed for the exits.He told Standard Sport, who reported the £1m-a-week offer: “We had some really big offers from Asia, there were some crazy offers. But for Mesut, money was by no means the biggest factor.
“Money is definitely one important thing to consider, but people must remember that footballing ability is just one aspect of a contract negotiation. The commercial impact of a footballer is crucial nowadays.
“Mesut has the biggest social media following of any player in the Premier League and I just read that his shirt numbers were the largest at the club.
“At the end of the day, this is all information that has to be taken into consideration. So, the commercial side is very big with a player like Mesut, who has played in different countries and was the No. 10 of the national team, where he won the World Cup.
“His market is worldwide. The club makes money out of these players as well, but it came down to what was in his heart.
“We were free to sign with other clubs and in the end Mesut loves the club. I put everything to him and he just said, ‘This is my home, I want to be here’.”
Ozil has enjoyed a productive 2018-19 seasonnow clear of the uncertainty which followed him around last term.
He has helped Arsenal to take in a 16-match unbeaten run, with positive progress being made in the Premier League, Carabao Cup and Europa League.
Four goals have been contributed to the Gunners cause, with a man who has taken the captain’s armband of late only one effort short of matching his return from the entire 2017-18 campaign.
He has been cleared to focus his full attention on club matters, with the decision made to retire from international duty on the back of criticism levelled at him before, during and after the 2018 World Cup.
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