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Mesut Ozil: I held talks with Barcelona - This put me off a move

MESUT OZIL has revealed Pep Guardiola put him off a move to Barcelona.

The Arsenal star shot to fame playing for Germany at the 2010 World Cup.

And a host of top clubs wanted him after the tournament in South Africa finished.

Real Madrid eventually secured Ozil's services - handing over £12.8m to Werder Bremen.

Mesut Ozil says he fancied a move to Barcelona after the 2010 World Cup(Image: GETTY )

But the playmaker has now revealed he was keen on a move to their arch-rivals Barcelona instead.

Ozil told Bild: "Arsenal were interested in signing me after the 2010 World Cup, as were Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Real Madrid.

"My agent sat down with Bayern to discuss a move. The club told him about their plans with me and how they intended to use me. He had similar talks with the other clubs that wanted me.

"Before I travelled to Barcelona, I was convinced that was my next club. I was leaning toward Barcelona. There was no team in the world that played more beautiful football.

Mesut Ozil spent three years at Real Madrid before joining Arsenal in 2013(Image: GETTY )
Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil has failed to impress since the turn of the year(Image: GETTY )

"But Guardiola did not attend talks and he did not call me either the days after. He did not even send me a text.