Mesut Ozil has revealed a burning desire to win the Champions League could force him to consider leaving Arsenal.
The 29-year-old is set to enter the final six months of his current contract and will be free to speak to foreign suitors should he fail to agree a new deal with Arsenal.
Barcelona are said to view the Germany international as a potential cheaper alternative to Philippe Coutinho should they be unable to agree a fee with Liverpool for the Brazilian playmaker, while Manchester United are also said to be among the leading candidates to secure the services of the former Real Madrid star.
Mourinho on Ozil's contract stand-off
‘That’s football. ‘Marouane Fellaini finishes his contract. There are other players in Europe, important players in other teams, they finish their contract. ‘Sometimes players they decide to go in this direction, which is a right that they have.
‘They gamble, because imagine if one of these players has a big injury. Then probably next season he is without a club, but players have the right to do that. ‘I don’t blame the clubs. The clubs they try, but the players have the right to go into this situation and in the end many times, it’s good for them.
‘Sometimes they go on a free transfer and can get huge salaries. Other times, the clubs to keep them, they make extra effort and offer very high salaries.’
Arsenal failed to qualify for the Champions League this season for the first time in Arsene Wenger’s entire reign and although they are currently in the Premier League’s top four there is no guarantee they will be there at the end of the current campaign, with the likes of Chelsea, Tottenham and Liverpool fighting it out with the two Manchester clubs.
‘I would like to win the Champions League once,’ Ozil told Sport Bild.
‘This is my big goal, which I will fight for. And of course I want to win the World Cup again.’
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