Your support helps us to tell the story
As your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.
Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn't have the resources to challenge those in power.
Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November election
Andrew Feinberg
White House Correspondent
Jose Mourinho has backed Mesut Ozil to be a key player for Real Madrid for a decade.
The Germany midfielder completed his move to the Bernabeu from Werder Bremen yesterday for a fee believed to be in the region of 15 million euros (around £12.4million).
"He's a player who can play for Real Madrid for 10 years," Madrid boss Mourinho told Marca after his side drew 1-1 with Standard Liege in a pre-season friendly last night.
"His contract was running out so we could get him at a lot less than his actual market value.
"With Kaka's injury, Ozil and Sergio (Canales) are two players who can give us a lot."
The arrival of 21-year-old Ozil, who will be officially unveiled at a press conference this afternoon, has sparked another round of speculation surrounding the future of Rafael van der Vaart.
The Holland midfielder scored Madrid's goal yesterday, but did not celebrate - a fact some took to mean he was on his way out of the club.
But Mourinho said: "For us it was just a training match. The result was not very important. I don't give any importance to the fact that Van der Vaart did not celebrate his goal. I didn't (celebrate) either. It was a friendly.
"For me, Van der Vaart is still as important as before the Ozil transfer. As always, I will listen to the wishes of the players."
Mourinho declared himself happy with his business in the transfer market this summer.
It has been a lower-key recruitment drive than last year for Madrid, with Ozil very much the headline name on a list which also includes Canales, Sami Khedira, Ricardo Carvalho, Pedro Leon and Angel Di Maria.
"In a market that is affected by the bad economic situation, without making a signing like Kaka or Cristiano (Ronaldo), the club has invested enough," he said.
One player seemingly not making the move to Madrid this summer is Romelu Lukaku, the 17-year-old Anderlecht striker who has caught Mourinho's attention.
"His father is very intelligent and will not let his son go now," said Mourinho. "We will see next season."
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments