LONDON, England, August 29- Mesut Ozil and Angel Di Maria have reiterated their desire to stay at Real Madrid, despite the club’s pursuit of Gareth Bale and reported interest from other clubs led by Arsenal who are keen to make big summer signing before the transfer window slams shut on Monday.
Ozil said it is an “honour” to play for the Bernabeu club with rumours of a move fuelled at the weekend when he stormed down the tunnel after being substituted during Real’s 1-0 win at Granada, but the 24-year-old says he will be staying in Spain.
Speaking at a promotional event, the Germany international said: “I have a contract until 2016, I feel very good here and get on well with my team-mates.
“For me it’s an honour to play here with this team.
“There has been a lot written in the press, they have spoken of interesting options but I have a contract and I am staying at Real Madrid.”
Ozil had reportedly been unsettled by the arrival of Isco and Madrid’s potential purchase of Bale which would leave his place in the side in doubt.
But the former Werder Bremen player says he understands the role that new coach Carlo Ancelotti wants him to play this season.
“I have the confidence of the coach and there is a series of objectives that we want to achieve in which every one has their own role to play. This is one of the reasons I want to stay,” he added.
Di Maria, the Argentina international winger put in a man-of-the-match performance in Monday night’s Primera Division win at Granada and earned plaudits from coach Carlo Ancelotti.
This came amid continued speculation about his future, with a host of reports claiming that Di Maria will be one of those to lose out from Bale’s likely arrival from Tottenham in a world-record deal.
The likes of Arsenal and Galatasaray have been strongly linked with big-money bids for the 25-year-old in recent days, but Di Maria remains insistent that he is happy at the club.
“I understand that the club is strengthening and they are precise in what they do,” Di Maria is quoted by AS.
– Football365.com
