Real Betis star Rafael van der Vaart has revealed that Arsenal star Mesut Özil was the reason he left Real Madrid for Tottenham.

“Mourinho is a very good coach; he’s suffocating but he knows what he wants,” Van der Vaart told Canal+. “He told me they were going to sign Ozil and that it was best that I left for another team in England or wherever.”

Van der Vaar joined Tottenham in 2010 and spent two seasons at the north London based club before moving to HSV and then Real Betis last summer.

Özil meanwhile joined Arsenal on a club record £42.5 million transfer from Real Madrid in 2013 and has gone onto win two FA Cup trophies and the Community Shield.

The World Cup winner currently has the most assists in the top five European leagues – England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. Özil has provided 10 assists in 11 league games for the Gunners this season and has two goals in all competitions.

The 27-year-old has provided assists in six consecutive games a Premier League record and has created the highest number of chances in the current Arsenal team.

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