Sami Khedira snubs Cristiano Ronaldo, names ex-Real Madrid teammate as 'most special' Los Blancos player he played with
Former Real Madrid star Sami Khedira has overlooked Cristiano Ronaldo and named fellow midfielder Mesut Ozil as the most special teammate he had at the club. The former midfielder enjoyed a successful spell with Los Blancos, playing alongside several of the world's biggest stars while also earning his keep at the club.
Khedira was on the books of Stuttgart when he moved to Real Madrid after starring for the German national team in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. He had played alongside Ozil in South Africa and was joined by the midfielder at the Santiago Bernabeu within weeks of signing for the club in July 2010.
Now retired, Khedira had an interview with Marca, where he spoke about his former teammates at Real Madrid. He revealed the reaction of the team to the club's decision to sell Ozil in the summer of 2013, labeling the former Arsenal man as his most special teammate at the club.
"Everyone thinks it's Cristiano. To win games, Cristiano was the man because he never failed. He was always there. We needed a goal, we put the ball through to Cristiano. But the most special one for me was Mesut Ozil. And I explain this with his departure.
"The day Mesut left, we all went to Florentino [Pérez] and said, 'Why the hell did you sell him?' Everyone! Benzema, Cristiano, Ramos... Ozil was a genius, a real magician and he controlled the ball with ease. I've never seen a player with that class and quality, really."
Mesut Ozil pulled the strings in attack for Los Blancos in his time at the club, allowing the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema to run riot with goals. He led the LaLiga in assists in each of his three seasons at the club before completing a £42.5 million move to Arsenal in 2013.
Khedira and Ozil won the FIFA World Cup as teammates in 2014, having picked up a bronze medal in 2010. Like Ozil, Khedira left Los Blancos in 2015 to join Juventus after making 161 appearances for the Spanish giants.
Like Real Madrid, like Al-Nassr: Cristiano Ronaldo receives luxury wheels in Saudi
Al-Nassr captain Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates at the club have received brand new BMW cars as part of their club's partnership with Mohamed Yousuf Naghi Motors. This company is the official importer of BMW cars in the Middle East and has an agreement with Al-Nassr until 2027.
Just as Real Madrid players receive new luxury cars from sponsors, Al-Nassr players have now received the same from the club's partners. Cristiano Ronaldo received a black BMW XM Label revealed to be worth around €155,000, as did Sadio Mane.
Results on the pitch have not been the best from the Knights of Najd, who have not won any major silverware in two seasons and are fourth in the Saudi league. Their ability to attract corporate sponsorship may be tied to the influence of Cristiano Ronaldo, whose commercial appeal is great, to say the least.