Lionel Messi has one clear reason for blocking Mesut Ozil transfer

Posted Thursday, November 23, 2017 by Express.co.uk

Lionel Messi has one clear reason for blocking Mesut Ozil transfer
Lionel Messi does not want Arsenal star Mesut Ozil

BARCELONA star Lionel Messi does not want the signing of Arsenal ace Mesut Ozil - because he is too old.

Barcelona have emerged as surprising frontrunners in the race for Ozil, who is looking increasingly likely to leave Arsenal when the transfer window reopens in the New Year.

Manchester United are also in for the Germany international but, should Ozil push for a move in January, Arsenal would prefer to sell him abroad.

However, Spanish publication Diario Gol say that Messi does NOT want Ozil to sign on at the Nou Camp.

And that is because he deems the Arsenal player too old, at the age of 29.

Ozil previously took La Liga by storm during his spell at Real Madrid.

During his time at the Bernabeu he helped Real end Barcelona's stranglehold on the top flight, firing them to La Liga glory under the tutelage of Jose Mourinho back in 2012.

Despite his links to their fiercest rivals, however, Barcelona do not seem swayed.

Yet Messi would rather the Catalan giants spend their money on a younger talent.

Diario Gol say he thinks that Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho would represent a far better arrival.

Barcelona tried repeatedly to sign the Brazilian over the summer only to see three bids snubbed.

Yet they could continue their quest to sign Coutinho in January should Messi's demands be met.

Meanwhile, Arsenal legend Ian Wright thinks Ozil has been failed by Arsene Wenger.

And he also reckons United would be the perfect fit, rather than Barcelona.

"If Ozil goes somewhere like Manchester United with the players they've got on form he will light the place up," Wright told Sky Sports.

"He's not the player who when the team's playing badly – if you've got players playing poorly in front of Ozil he's got nothing to hit and I don't think Arsene Wenger has got the best out of him consistently up to this point."