Ozil hints at Mourinho confrontation

The Arsenal midfielder has a new autobiography, Die Magie des Spiels (The Magic of the Game), which is currently being serialised in German newspaper Bild.

Ozil and Mourinho both joined Los Blancos in 2010 and left in 2013, and won the La Liga title during their time together at the Santiago Bernabeu.

According to the book, the heated argument occurred after an unspecified match because Mourinho felt that Ozil had shown a complete lack of effort.

"You think two beautiful passes are enough," the Portuguese coach said according to Ozil. "You think you're so good that 50 per cent is enough."

The Germany international added: "He pauses. Stares at me with his dark brown eyes. I stare back. Like two boxers at the stare-down before the first round. He shows no emotion. Just waits for a response from me. How much I hate him right now. And I love Mourinho actually."

Ozil said he threw his shirt on the floor in anger, leading Mourinho to tear into him again.

"Oh, are you giving up now? You're such a coward. What do you want? To creep under the beautiful, warm shower? Shampoo your hair? To be alone? Or do you want to prove to your fellow players, the fans out there, and me, what you can do."

Despite the heated clash, Ozil said that Mourinho was a major factor in getting him to join Real and not arch-rivals Barcelona at the time.

Barca's then-head coach Pep Guardiola was apparently absent from transfer negotiations, while Mourinho was 'the complete opposite'.

"Because of Guardiola's behaviour, I did not want to go to Barcelona," Ozil wrote. "Especially because Mourinho fought so much to keep me at Madrid.