Wayne Rooney’s desire to be joined at Manchester United by Mesut Ozil was savagely stamped out by his former boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
On the ten year anniversary of the Red Devils confirming Fergie’s retirement, we take a look back on one almost-moment for the Premier League giants.
World Cup winner Ozil announced his retirement from football earlier this season, with Arsenal fans sending their wishes to the former Gunners star – but it could have been very different had Rooney got his way.
Ozil enjoyed a hugely successful career and is considered one of the most talented midfielders and goal-creators of his generation.
The 34-year-old was part of the Germany squad that knocked England out of the 2010 World Cup, and caught the eye of Rooney during the match.
Ozil’s efforts impressed the Man United star so much that Rooney called for Ferguson to bring him to Old Trafford.
However, the legendary boss did not wish to listen to his plea as he revealed in his autobiography: “Wayne said that we should have pursued Mesut Ozil, who had joined Real Madrid from Werder Bremen.
“My reply was that it was none of his business who we should have gone for. I told him it was his job to play and perform. My job was to pick the correct teams. And so far I had been getting it right.
“Well, he was not on our radar at the time. Ozil when at Werder Bremen played wide right, then towards the end of the season played him off the front.
“He went to South Africa and did very well. But wasn’t on our radar.
“But I explained to Wayne and we get most of our decisions right.”
Ozil went on to make 159 appearances for Madrid, and amassed a superb 27 goals and 81 assists during his spell at Los Blancos.
Such performances attracted the interest of Arsenal, who signed him on deadline day in the summer of 2013.
It would prove to be a successful move for him as he scored 44 goals and provided 79 assists in 254 appearances.
He also won the FA Cup four times and lifted the World Cup with Germany during his spell, before leaving for Fenerbahce in 2021 and then Istanbul Basaksehir.
Suggesting what success he would have enjoyed had he joined United instead is the stuff of dreams – but United were crowned Premier League champions twice without him.
And we all know how his spell at Arsenal ended, so perhaps Ferguson got this one right after all.
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