Despite being the highest earner in the Arsenal squad, Mesut Ozil has not agreed to take the 12.5 per cent pay cut which had been proposed by the club recently, as per The Mirror.
The Gunners had announced that their players and the coaching staff had agreed to take the cut starting this month after having detailed discussion on the matter meaning the club will now be able to pay their non-essential staff in full despite the ongoing financial crisis.
Arsenal issued a statement which read: “We are pleased to announce that we have reached a voluntary agreement with our first-team players, head coach and core coaching staff to help support the club at this critical time.
“Reductions of total annual earnings by 12.5 per cent will come into effect this month, with the contractual paperwork being completed in the coming days.
“If we meet specific targets in the seasons ahead, primarily linked to success on the pitch, the club will repay agreed amounts.”
But as per The Mirror, Mesut Ozil is one of three players who have refused to take the pay-cut and this is a really problematic situation since the German currently earns £350,000-a-week.
And shortly after this news broke out, the playmaker has received heavy criticism from all quarters. We have decided to compile some of the best.
Carragher on Mesut Ozil refusing a pay-cut:
“I think his agent did him no favours when he came out three or four weeks ago about waiting to see how the coronavirus hits these clubs financially,” the Liverpool legend told Sky Sports’ The Football Show, as quoted by Football London.
“Football is a team game, it’s not an individual sport, for someone like Ozil there, I think he has to go with what the players are doing. It’s a massive PR own goal.
“In every walk of life we try to earn as much money as we can but when a situation like this comes in, in a dressing room, the highest-paid member and the biggest name should be setting the example because it hasn’t been a great PR success story since he had that contract.”
Gary Neville’s reaction:
“The principle of not being together as a group is indefensible. You’re a team on and off the pitch,” Neville said on the same Sky Sports’ show, as quoted.
“I wouldn’t like to be one of the three who hasn’t agreed. It will alienate and isolate them from the rest. When a group of players are voting on something, you go along with it.
“Most clubs, players, are not at war but they’re in a massive battle. The players don’t trust the clubs and this is just another example of it.”
Piers Morgan on Mesut Ozil’s stance:
Morgan said on Good Morning Britain, as reported by Metro: ‘He’s made it clear he respects the decision that the other players have made, but he’s urged them to respect his.
‘He’s made it clear he might be willing to do it in the future, but wants to see the full financial impact of coronavirus and didn’t want to rush into a decision.
‘Shame on you Mesut Ozil. Shame on you. So let me get this straight, some of the younger players on far less money than you, are taking a 12.5% pay cut, a minuscule drop in the ocean for you, and you don’t want to do it?’
Here are some other reactions to Ozil’s decision:
Sure there will be a lot of Ozil bashing doing the rounds. But it must be noted, no-one does more for charity or for people/children in need than he does throughout the year. The work he does around the world often goes unnoticed, but it’s vast. He spends millions helping others.
— Charles Watts (@charles_watts) April 20, 2020
Surely the entire squad accepts a pay cut or nobody does? Bizarre way to go about things by Arsenal. Unpopular opinion I'm sure, but I actually feel a bit sorry for Ozil. He's been thrown under a bus by his team-mates and the club.
— Matt Law (@Matt_Law_DT) April 21, 2020
🗣 Ally McCoist has his say on the Mesut Ozil situation… pic.twitter.com/uvmDoCtqCu
— AFTV (@AFTVMedia) April 21, 2020
