• Premier League

Ozil deal led to Mourinho blocking Ba move

ESPN staff
September 4, 2013
Is Jose right to fear Arsenal?


Jose Mourinho says he personally blocked Demba Ba signing for Arsenal after learning of Mesut Ozil's move to the Emirates.

Arsenal made a deadline day move for Ba and looked set to take the Senegal striker on a season-long loan, but the deal was halted by Chelsea boss Mourinho when Ozil's £42.5 million move was announced.

"I did not accept Arsenal's offer for Demba Ba because added to their signing of Ozil, they would have been title contenders," Mourinho said, according to reports in several newspapers.

Mourinho, who managed Ozil at Real Madrid, was full of praise for the German international and compared him to some of the greatest to ever grace the Bernabeu.

"Ozil is unique, there is no copy of him, not even a bad one," he said.

"He is the best No. 10 in the world. He made things easier for me and his team-mates with his vision of the game and the decisions that he made.

"Everybody loves him and you can see a bit of Figo and Zidane in him."

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger's summer priority was a new striker, but with Olivier Giroud his only recognised striker available he was forced to call off the proposed sale of Nicklas Bendtner.

Download ESPN's new UK sport app, a fresh and powerful new way to follow your favourite UK sports news, scores and video.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
ESPN staff Close