Arsenal star Mesut Ozil has opened up on how Jose Mourinho gave him the confidence that would help him become a World Cup winner and shape his career.
Ozil, now 28, teamed up with the Manchester United boss at Real Madrid in 2010, moving to the Spanish club for £10million from German side Werder Bremen.
At that point he was already a German Cup winner, a European Under-21 Championship winner and a senior Germany international with a World Cup finasl under his belt.
Additionally, he had turned down interest from Arsenal, Bayern Munich, United and Barcelona to link up with the Special One at the Santiago Bernabeu.
However, Ozil was paralysed by self doubt ahead of his unveiling with Los Blancos.
He knew he was a good player, proving himself with Werder and Die Mannschaft. But the playmaker wasn't sure if he was good enough, whether he had within what was necessary to impress at the biggest club in the world.
He questioned whether he, a 21-year-old who had grown up in a house without a number in Gelsenkirchen, had what it took and whether "this legendary team was still too big for me?"
In his new autobiography, Gunning for Greatness, Ozil explains how he saw himself as "a nobody". Fortunately for him, that wasn't how Mourinho, stepping into the Madrid hotseat after taking the European Cup to Inter, saw him.
And as Ozil looked to make his decision, he sought out Mourinho, and plagued by self-doubt, asked whether he would get an opportunity to play regularly.
"Yes that's what I'll give you," Mourinho said. "A very real opportunity. Train hard. Then play. Show me you want it and I'll have you in my team. If you want to get better, I'll make you better.
"Real Madrid isn't too big a move for you. Real Madrid is the only right move. Trust me. I'll turn you into a regular player. And then all the doors will be open to you. You'll be able to show the world what you're capable of. And, believe me, that's a huge amount."
That persuaded Ozil - "an ambitious boy with a feeling for magic passes" according to Mourinho - not only to join the Spanish giants, but also "swept all my doubts away."
From there, Ozil became a fan favourite at the Bernabeu winning La Liga and the Spanish Cup, cost Arsenal £42million upon departing, won two FA Cups with the Gunners and played his part in Germany's World Cup success.
He's also been Germany's player of the year on five occasions - quite amazing considering their talent pool.
Thus, it's little wonder he holds Mourinho in such high regard.
Gunning For Greatness: My Life by Mesut Ozil is out now, priced at £20