Mesut Ozil Thanks Real Madrid Fans But Criticises Club

[Folami David]

Mesut Ozil thanked Real Madrid fans and at the same time criticised the Spanish club's leadership following his transfer deadline day move to Premier League side Arsenal.
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"Thank you very much for three wonderful years with all of you, my time was unique and special for me, sometimes things develop differently than I would have expected them to a few days ago," Ozil said in statement Monday night following the transfer.
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"I wish you and the team the very best. Now I'm looking forward to my new club: The Gunners!"
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The 24-year-old also made clear Tuesday in an interview with the German football federation's dfb- tv that he felt the time was right to move away from Madrid as he did not seem to fit into new coach Carlo Ancelotti's plans.
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"I noticed in recent days that I don't have the coach's trust," said Ozil.
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"Arsenal have that faith so I will be to develop further."
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Arsenal paid a club record 42.5 million pounds (66 million dollars) for the Germany midfielder, who has signed a five-year deal.
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Ozil joins fellow Germans Per Mertesacker and Lukas Podolski at Arsenal and will wear the number 11 jersey.
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The fee is the largest ever paid for a German footballer, eclipsing the 37 million euros Bayern Munich paid Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund for Mario Goetze earlier this year.
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Ozil also becomes the most expensive sale made by Madrid. The previous record was held by Brazilian striker Robinho, who moved to Manchester City in 2008 for 43 million euros.
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Ozil's departure was sealed following the confirmation of Gareth Bale's record-breaking 100- million euro move to Madrid from Arsenal's North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
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The move also appears to have become inevitable after Real refused to bow to the player's demands for a pay rise.