Real deal: Mesut Ozil close to signing for Madrid as Manchester United miss out on German World Cup star

By Sportsmail Reporter
Updated: 05:26 EDT, 16 August 2010

Madrid bound? Mesut Ozil ready to sign for Real

Germany midfielder Mesut Ozil is set to snub Manchester United and sign for Real Madrid in a £11.5million deal today.

His club Werder Bremen had turned down an initial offer of £10m but Real are set to clinch the deal by offering another £1.5m for a player who was outstanding at the World Cup in South Africa.

Klaus Alloffs, the Werder general manager, said: 'Madrid 's offer was unacceptable but that does not mean we're not willing to listen to new proposals for Ozil.'

Ozil has a year of his contract left and Werder are keen to cash in on him rather than see him leave on a free transfer next summer.

Madrid sources claim a pre-agreement is in place with the 21-year-old set to join them when his contract runs out, putting pressure on Werder to sell him now.

Real need the transfer to be completed by Wednesday when Werder play Sampdoria in a Champions League qualifying tie.

If Ozil played in that game he would be ineligible to play for Real who go straight into the group stages of the competition.

Real boss Jose Mourinho admitted he would like to have Ozil in his squad but refused to confirm if and when the deal would be completed

'I cannot say if we will sign him," said Mourinho. 'I am working with the players I have available.

'As a coach I cannot say 'no' to the possibility of having a player like him. I am in a privileged position with Rafael van der Vaart and Sergio Canales, although I would also like to have Ozil because he can give us more chances to play in different positions, by his versatility. But I do not care.'

Ozil, meanwhile, has expressed his dismay at Werder's decision to reject Real's opening bid and insisted it would be a 'dream' to play for the Spanish giants.

Outstanding: Ozil terrorises the England defence for Germany in the World Cup

He said: 'I was told that they (Real Madrid) could not bid for me, and I had to find out after the Bayern-Real Madrid match [on Friday] that there had been an offer. This makes me sad, and I told [Werder Bremen general manager] Klaus Allofs.

'It is any player's dream to play for one of the biggest clubs in Europe. It would make any player  happy and I would also say proud that a club the size of Real Madrid is interested in him.'

Ozil reluctantly said he would continue playing for the Werder if the deal broke down but made no secret of his desire to move to the Bernabeu.

'I hope to continue having discussions, but for now, all I can say is that I have a year left on my contract with Werder Bremen and I will comply,' he said.

'I have a contract and I owe respect to my club. I'm just saying what any player would say if Real Madrid came knocking on the door.

'I've said many times that I have enormous respect for Werder. I think I've said enough on this issue. Now I just want to continue training to be ready for the new season as soon as possible.'