Real Madrid star Karim Benzema named former Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil as one of the best players he has ever played with during his career.
In an interview with France Football via GFFN, the striker, who was recently named French Footballer of the Year, listed his former Real Madrid teammate as one of many players he enjoyed playing with.
The duo spent some seasons together in the Spanish capital as Ozil flourished playing with the likes of Benzema, Gonzalo Higuain and Cristiano Ronaldo for Los Blancos before moving to Arsenal.
And for the French international, Ozil was one of the best he ever played with during his time with Madrid. The now-Fenerbahce star transferred to north London on deadline day in 2013, becoming a key player for the Gunners for almost seven years.
Indeed, it is easy to forget just how magical a player Ozil was during his prime, which was arguably at Madrid. And for Benzema, the former Germany international was named in the striker’s best players he has played with.
The striker said when asked who his best teammates were: “Cristiano [Ronaldo], Mesut Ozil, Juninho, Fred [in Lyon] and Zizou [Zinedine Zidane] in training too. Technical players. That’s football, you make the call, the ball comes, you give the ball to him, he gives it to you.”
Benzema praise highlights how revered Ozil is in the football world
Judging Ozil’s time at Arsenal is a complex matter amongst supporters and pundits. Yet it is easy to conclude that the midfielder is a special talent and remains one of the most technically gifted players to play for the north London club in the Premier League era.
With the playmaker bringing silverware back to Arsenal and handing the club their best title shot in years in the 2015/16 season, Ozil’s brilliance might not be fully realised long after his retirement. Yet for Benzema, the admiration for the German is already there.
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