Arsenal slammed over treatment of Mesut Ozil by super-agent Kia Joorabchian

Agent Kia Joorabchian has blasted Arsenal for failing to give his client Mesut Ozil sufficient game time in recent seasons.

Ozil joined the Gunners from Real Madrid in 2013 for what was then a club-record fee of £42.5 million.

The German was an instant hit at the Emirates Stadium, helping Arsenal end their trophy drought in his first season and lighting up the Premier League with his creativity at the heart of Arsene Wenger’s side.

Ozil was rewarded for his service with a new three-year deal in 2013 worth £350,000 per week – making him the highest-paid player in Arsenal’s history.

But the playmaker endured a frosty relationship with Wenger’s successor, Unai Emery, and saw his minutes limited under the Spaniard.

After Emery was sacked last November and Mikel Arteta took over as Gunners boss, however, things looked to be back on track for Ozil.

The 31-year-old was handed a run of starts in the Premier League only for the coronavirus outbreak to suspend the season, and a back injury prevented him from featuring in Project Restart.

Is there any chance Ozil can revive his Arsenal career this season? Have your say here.

Ozil is prepared to see out the remaining year of his deal but Joorabchian believes Arsenal are guilty of a gross mismanagement of his client.

“The Ozil situation should have been resolved two years ago,” Joorabchian told talkSPORT. “What is the point of a player sitting and not playing? Who gains from that?

“The club doesn’t gain from that. The player is ageing, he doesn’t gain from that. The agent doesn’t gain from that.

“I mean, I’m not exactly sure – other than the fact the player has maybe a monetary gain from getting an income – I don’t think anybody really gains from such a situation.

“I can’t really remember us not trying everything to resolve a problem with a player. I just don’t see the point of it.”

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