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The Reason Why Man United Passed On Signing Mesut Ozil In 2010

The Reason Why Man United Passed On Signing Mesut Ozil In 2010

He looks likely to join United, going off recent reports...

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

Mesut Ozil to Manchester United links heated up last night, with John Cross from The Mirror reporting that the German has hold Arsenal teammates he expects to move to Old Trafford.

The World Cup has been heavily linked with United previously, not just in recent times.

As per Samuel Luckhurst, who is the Manchester United editor for the Manchester Evening News, the Red Devils had the chance to sign him on two separate occasions.

First, in 2010, when Ozil was waving waves at Werder Bremen, Sir Alex Ferguson is said to have scouted the playmaker on a number of occasions.

However, a 21-year old Ozil, fresh from a sterling World Cup campaign in South Africa, signed for Real Madrid in a €15 million move.

Image: PA

There was a suggestion that Wayne Rooney had urged Ferguson to try and sign Ozil, having seen his mercurial talents in the flesh during Germany's 4-1 drubbing of England in Bloemfontein.

In addition, it's also been mentioned by United fanzine Red Issue that United passed up on the chance to sign him because he was "too left-footed".

United did try again for him in 2013 after being linked once more, but he of course signed for Arsenal in a then club-record £42.5 million on deadline day.

But now four years on, we could finally see Ozil in a United shirt. He has been stalling on a new contract at the Emirates and Arsene Wenger even admitted that he could be on the move when January rolls around.

Arsenal would of course prefer not to sell to a direct rival for no transfer fee but with only Inter Milan also interested, and the current situation, they may well have to.

Image: PA

Though the transfer is not in stone as of yet, United are the clear favourites to be Ozil's next destination, and a reunion with Jose Mourinho beckons.

Despite not striking you as an archetypal Mourinho player, Ozil won one La Liga and one Copa Del Rey under his tutelage at the Bernabeu, registering 47 assists and scoring 19 goals in 103 league appearances, as per Who Scored.

Image: Getty

Though they did have a rift in the Spanish capital, the United boss has showered praised on the former Schalke and Werder Bremen man in the past and previously stated he was the best number ten in world football.

Should a move come to fruition, Ozil would join a star-studded list of players to play for Mourinho at multiple clubs.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Jose Mourinho, Football, Manchester United, Mesut Ozil, Arsene Wenger, Germany, Arsenal, Werder Bremen, Real Madrid