Ozil refused to sign a new contract and was always going to be sold by Bremen for fear of losing him for nothing. The World Cup merely increased his price.

I think Ozil has great talent and is a truly special player. I think he should've stayed back 1 more year and developed his skills. I hope he doesn't settle in @ real cos on paper, those guys (real madrid) look too formidable for barcelona. But wait a minute, didn't real formidable last season too? We know who won la liga

Seemingly very few players can resist the temptation of the big clubs. Metzelder was the last German to go to Real. He sat on the bench and was not nominated for the Nationalmannschaft in 2010, despite having been a steady figure for the team in the past. Özil and Khedira may suffer the same fate. Germany has no stars, the star is the team. Both are great young talents, but if they are not ready for Real they put their spot in the national team on the line. If they don't play they are out. Bremen plays champions league, if I were Özil I would have waited at least 2 more years. Then again if he fails now he can still be ready for the world cup 2014 even if missing the euro.

Agree, it's a season too soon, but on the other hand, as he said to the press: "The train "Real Madrid" passes by only once in a lifetime, and when the train stops to pick you up, you better get on it"

ozil will be a much more better player in real.It will depend on his hard work.

Great player. I wonder how Mourinho will use him with so many midfielders, but I am sure he will be a great addition to the Merengues!

Yes, Ozil could have done with an extra year of development at Bremen. But the reality is, after his World Cup performance, Ozil was never going to stay at Bremen beyond the conclusion of his contract next summer. Weder did what any club would do and cashed in on him while they still could. I hope he gets game time this season, but in a club like Real even a young star like Ozil is no certainty to be a regular in Mourinho's starting 11. Regardless of this, I think Low will always find a place for him in central midfield for Germany. Although, with Ballack back in the Bundesliga, Khedira's place in the national side may not be a surety.

Excellent voice and exciting delivery on CNN. You are already a superstar. Do you also do live commentary of games on the radio? You should.

A team, no matter how successful, wouldn't want to leave someone like Ozil on the bench. He is a joy to watch play. Very creative he is. I don't think he will have any problems proving himself up for the job. I thought his price was too low though.

As for Ballack, it seems odd that a man who held up the English championship trophy would be fired the following season. Though I imagine it fairly difficult to shine beside the likes of Drogba.

Sad not to have seen an interview with Drogba on CNN after he shot the most goals in all of Europe last season. Maybe you might give us the chance. He deserves it.

Keep up the good work. I enjoy watching your show.

I think ozil should made a mistake by going to real

I think ozil made a mistake by going to real

Hi,i must say i love ur work on CNN sport but anyway Michael ballack wil have a far better season than Oezil.I think ts bcoz of his great depth knowledge of the german game,he has proved his worth in the past wen he was at munich but for Oezil he might have 2b contempt with the no. of holdin midfielders at Real.With the likes of alonso,granero,diarra,kaka n new signings canales n khedira it will be a very tough one for him.Keep up the good work Giles!

Ballack is such a nice, lovable guy who took all the personal disappointment in stride. I recall after the friendly against South Africa, Ballack said of Ozil – "Germany had finally found a number 10". I believe Chelsea stand to lose after the release of Ballack. In that they lost their most intelligent player, the only player in the Bundesliga that could match Fabregas for the killer pass. Mickel and Essien are not that intelligent. As for Ballack, going back to Leverkusen was a wise decision, because he is bound to partner another great star, Simon Rolfes, in potentially the Bundesliga's best midfield partnership, which was supposed to be Germany's preferred pairing at the world cup had it not been for injury.

I think Ozil is one of the youngest midfielders at the moment but the choice of madrid is not the best. Ozil should be give time to learn the arts of football with clubs like Barcelona. This could have prepared him to take the centre stage as the best footballer on planet later. Anyway, I wish him success in Santiago.

so if see guys typen i can throw up... past weeks since Òzil moved the REAL MADRID.. been readen readen readen... if you guys fallowed his relation back with S04 SCHALKE his dad said son your moven the bremen... all poeple said its crazy... now wheres he now! REAL MADRDID... like this lady since weeks i m even sayen the prize for OZILs prize targeten was much toooo LOW...if i just read from a female that the prize was really too low...where you guys @...its shame you guys have your own thoughts... i see no problems... but first use your head 2 side ways,,, not 1 side ways....REAL MADRID got OZIL ina FLOHMARKT prize 18 millen–..WERDER Bremen qualifiat for the champiosnleague... now the make a oppent team in the championsleague much better flexibel sytem with Ozil in or out... i think the prize should of been like 25 + millen,,,YOUNGstar german cup winner2009..U21 euro cup winner.. at the bundesliga 3rd place... and than not least WORLD CUP2010 semifinal lose and 3rd seed place in south AFRICA...now he thinks h e can take the next step.. if a young player like this says decides this coach will make me much better,,, why guys say in forums its too early for him... even if he dont make it @REAL MADRID.. he at least tryd.... there been not many outside the GERMANY.. german players... yes BALLACK had the best of his in UK premier LEAGUE.. chelsea wasnt that smart the let him go.. but in age ... teams decide the go diffrent ways... ok.. ballack took options the go back to the league where he started off...LEVERKUSEN have a young team.. where an OLD routeen player ´will have his best shot moven back to the Germany national team...i think he wil be back the be captain of the national team... if he dont get hurt ...i think the only problem i see in the case of REAL MADRID... is SAMI kyhdira...i think he moved to quick...yes he played soem good games for VfBStuttgart,,,yes he played a real good world cup...but òzil is much CREATIVE player...LEFT SIDE~CENTER~RIGHT SIDE MIDFIELD.. even he would be thrown in as a sub... i see the potional of Ozil much further than ´Sami... i see BALLACK-SCHWEINSTEIGER-ÒZIL much more fo r the EURO2012...also CAPTAIN BALLACK back..LAHM VIZECAPTAIN-(2nd)

but LISA CASH... i really liked your LINE ... some guys just cant see the Trueth in that ya REAL MADRID bought a BIG talent young adult... for cheap prize....18 millionen is much tooo cheap... turn it around if BREMEN would of bought Òzil from REAL = 30+ millionen... just sad how cheap good players get bought.... i exspierenced soccer over 30 years now- if you gyus see mistake ,..., i m sorry i aint perfect... but ya i can do better... see ya around global fans.... read some than write some... good luck with your teams around.. greets from GERMANY

I think it was to early for Ozil to move on, he was suppose to mature at Werder before moving on. Real Madrid wants players who are already up to the task no room for errors, their philosophy is to win and win only..

Definately wrong choice for Ozil, he wd have joined Man united like Ronald did then join Madrid when he is 26 or so. Madrid is not a good club for young stars lke him. Look at Benzma another wasted talent coz he choose poorly,Robben, Vander vart, among other didnt make it at Madrid. Let me wish him all the best & watch hw he rubs off my critics. Go Mourinho go Madrid go Ozil. Tough season ahead.

wrong choice for Özil. Too soon. Should have waited another year, but the offer was probably too tempting. We have seen many players go to Real Madrid, warm the bench for 2 seasons and leave again with a damaged reputation and self confidence in shambles. The air is very thin there and the environment quite hostile.

AGREED.

Özil signed with RM too soon. Should have stayed for Bremen, not only to get to play as a starter at every game but also to gain experience.

I am not a fan of Madrid since they always sign everyone and have tons of players sitting on the bench who would fell in love with the idea of playing for RM but ended up just being a bench warmer even though they are amazing players and could achieve outstanding things with other clubs.
But overall it's Özil's choice and I hope he gets to play there and become an even better player than he already is.

Ozil made a mistake he will never forget by accepting reals offer
jose is known to have a standing five, both in chelsea and inter
Ozil will become a bench warmer sooner or later cos real has good players like C Ronaldo, Kaka and so on
if Ozil should gp to a smaller team, I think he will become a great player

Ballak remains a great player with a great attitude.His just been having it rough with injuries,and he's not getting any younger.
Ozil,an exceptional lad,with great footballing attributes.He is younger and has a great future ahead of him.Did he move to Madrid too early and soon? I don't think so.He just have to stay discipline and positive.
Kate,I think Thomas MUller will sure turn out the star of his generation.

I agree with Kate that Ozil could've made a hasty decision to join Real Madrid! But on the other hand, he was given an opportunity which only comes once & he decided to grab it! as for Ballak he took the right decision to join a club that could utilize his experience albeit at a reasonable pace!

haha, looks like this article needs to have a serious follow-up! and serious research! seriously! Özil has fit in very, very fantastically smashingly well in Madrid. and Khedira, too.

RM Pres. Florentino Perez is not stupid enough to repeat the same mistake as he did in 2003 in "letting go" Vicente Del Bosque. And remember, Perez hired Jose Mourinho FOR A REASON! To win titles, not dilly-dally and get knocked out after the first few rounds. The past decade has been a joke, and no wonder Barca kept winning. (of course, not counting that iffy El classico last November, Mou's RM is an early project, and there's something happening behind the scenes, what with Sergio Ramos shoving Puyol and Xavi, et.al in the end) This is Real Madrid we're talking about, they have to keep up with their reputation.. in terms of History... they've had enough of being mocked at as a "walking bank account" and "benching players". Can you blame them for taking a different route now? It's about time, really.

Now regarding Herr Ballack... ayayay. yayayayayay. No offense meant to Ballack worshippers here, but ya gotta do some research on Youtube. There are raw videos with a million views of "PODOLSKI SLAPPING BALLACK", and guys, you gotta read the Deutsch comments. Ballack is no longer and has long been NOT considered as the hero of Germany. That is just pure media blitz, nearly everyone in Deutschland don't like Ballack, in fact, he is called an arrogant "arseloch".. the A-word in English. So you can see the Jogi Löw had a lot on his hands because Ballack has a knack of throwing a monkey wrench at Die Mannschaft... in fact he's got a knack of throwing a monkey wrench at Chelsea, too. Plus the fact that he had a huge fight with Kevin Prince Boateng prior to the WC2010, which resulted to an injury, and guess what? Prince is also the brother of Jerome Boateng, German NT defender.... (search YT, "Boateng slaps Ballack") People just don't like Michael Ballack, cuz he's an arrogant, ball-hogging hothead. Watch Euro Final 2008, and you will see that almost the entire German NT was acting like a complete nutcase (kinda like Gatusso right now LOL) when they lost to Spain. It nearly became a political and diplomatic disaster cuz the guys were playing (and yelling/swearing/headbutting each other) in front of Mrs. Merkel and the King & Queen of Spain. ayayay. Boy, am I glad to see that Germany was the surprise of the World Cup last year. Super duper happy for them, and I actually wanted them to win over my favorite La Furia Roja.. but Spain has waited long enough for their first World Cup.. so yeah, Olé!!! But i still really feel for Schweinsteiger

In conclusion, we'll see what happens in April. That's gonna be one hell of a month. basically got 3 meetings of Barca vs Madrid in that month: Copa del Rey Final, El Classico, and UEFA Champions League(?) perhaps...

Greets from the a Spanish-American fan in the Philippines