Mesut Ozil picks his favourite XI he’s played with… but it’s mostly Real Madrid and German stars
Arsenal midfielder relies on international links, and past and present team-mates from the Gunners and Real Madrid
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MESUT OZIL has chosen his Favourite World XI.
And Lionel Messi is nowhere to be seen...nor is any other Barcelona player! But probably because Ozil is depending on past and present team-mates.
In the light of recent events you may be surprised to see that three Arsenal players - Hector Bellerin, Alex Sanchez and Ozil himself - are in the line-up.
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A far cry from the world stages that the stars in his World XI are used to.
Anyway, former Real Madrid star Ozil was more inclined to pick his old Bernabeu team-mates than his current ones or anyone from Barca in a video released by .
Ozil plumped for a 4-3-3 formation beginning with his German international compatriot Manuel Neuer in goal, saying simply of the Bayern Munich hero: "I choose Manuel Neuer because he is the best goalkeeper in the world."
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Bellerin gets the vote at right-back because "he is the fastest player in the world" and alongside the Spaniard in the centre of defence is Bayern's Jerome Boeteng who earns this glowing assessment:
"I have never seen a defender like him. He really has everything."
Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos - "one of best in the world" - is also in the back four along with team mate Marcelo, of whom Ozil says has "really good technique and I really enjoy playing with him".
Another Real star, Luka Modric, is on the right side of midfield thanks to his "very good technique" and the fact that the Croatian "can use both feet and has a really good eye to see his team mates".
Another German, Ilkay Gundogan of Manchester City, also gets the nod. Ozil says of him: "He is a smart player, very clever on the pitch."
Ozil declines to big up himself...
But he us very enthusiastic about his next choice, Sanchez on the right side of the front line.
"He works a lot, he always want to be successful and I like to play with him."
Karim Benzema leads the attack because the Real striker he is "very clever in front of goal and also smart on the pitch with really good technique."
Last, but definitely not least is the Real Madrid talisman, Ronaldo, described by Ozil as "a machine - he always lots of goals per season."