Former Real Madrid star Mesut Ozil has revealed that he could have signed for Barcelona in 2010 but ended up not making the move because of Pep Guardiola.

According to Ozil, Jose Mourinho wanted him very much at the Santiago Bernabéu while Pep Guardiola didn’t show much enthusiasm in his signing.

He wrote in his upcoming autobiography Magic of the Game: “Before I personally wanted to go to Barcelona. I was convinced to go there. No team of the world played more beautiful football at this time.

“But the absence of Pep Guardiola made me suspicious. When my consultant and I flew back from Barcelona, I asked him again and again. Why was the coach not there?” His answer was always the same: ‘He was on vacation.’

“Guardiola did not call me in the following days either. He did not even send an SMS. He did not send me a signal that he wanted me to. After that my enthusiasm for Barcelona steadily declined.

“Because of Guardiola’s behaviour, I did not want to go to Barcelona. Especially because Mourinho fought so much at the same time. He was so convincing. So heartfelt, trying so hard He was the complete opposite of the Barca coach. So I decided for José Mourinho and Real Madrid.”

Ozil spent four years at Real Madrid, and went on to have an impressive career, scoring 27 goals and providing 80 assists in 159 appearances for the Los Blancos. He also won the La Liga, Copa del Rey and Spanish Supercopa titles in his four years at the club.