The former director of Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, believes that the decision to offer Mesut Ozil a long-term contract last year could have left the German in a "zone". of comfort ".
Ozil put an end to speculation about his future last year by engaging alongside the Gunners until the summer of 2021, with Wenger still in charge.
But Ozil fell out of favor under Wenger's successor, Unai Emery, who only started one match since Boxing Day in order to check out again whether or not he will be at Emirates Stadium.
Join Independent spirits
For exclusive items, events and an ad-free reading for only £ 5.99 $ 6.99 $ 9.99
a month
Get the best of L & # 39; Independent
With an Independent Minds subscription for only £ 5.99 $ 6.99 $ 9.99
a month
Get the best of L & # 39; Independent
Without ads – for just £ 5.99 $ 6.99 $ 9.99
a month
Wenger, after receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Laureus World Sports Awards, said: "I have the feeling that the duration of the contract has nothing to do with the selection of the team, but sometimes there are special cases .
"Most of the time, we think when we hire a player for five years, we have a good player for five years, but that does not necessarily mean that they train, they play their best. Because they're maybe in their comfort zone. "
"He has a contract, but the problem is that if you want to buy a player like him, you have to spend £ 100 million.
"And to maintain the value of the player, beyond the Ozil affair, it's more about the way football is structured.
"To buy players of the highest quality, you need 100 million pounds, so you have to decide if you rename the player, which does not cost us anything, or do we have the money to buy a new player. ? "
Wenger has questioned Ozil's level of effort at Arsenal since signing his new contract (Getty)
The Laureus World Sports Awards recognize the most outstanding men and women in the world of sport, as well as their accomplishments from the previous calendar year. The awards also feature the work of Laureus Sport for Good, a charity that uses the power of sport to end violence, discrimination and disadvantage.
Pennsylvania
Stay up to date with all the latest news with expert commentary and badysis from our award-winning writers