Ally McCoist has come to the defence of Mesut Ozil over the reports he has refused a pay cut during the coronavirus crisis.
The German is said to be one of three Gunners players to reject a 12.5 per cent wage deduction during the coronavirus pandemic.
Ozil the clubs highest earner on £350,000-a-week is understood to have made it clear he is willing to contribute, but does not want to rush into a decision and wants to see the full financial impact of the COVID pandemic before he commits.
Mesut Ozil has come under fire over reports he has refused to take a pay cut during the COVID-19 pandemic
Arsenals wage deal will see players take a 12.5 per cent drop for 12 months until March next year, and the club will repay the money IN FULL if they qualify for the Champions League either this season or the next, as well as a £100,000 bonus.They will get 7.5 per cent back if they reach the Europa League, but nothing if they do not get into Europe, and any player who is sold for a profit will have their money completely refunded.The reports of Ozils refusal of this offer has predictably led to a backlash from many Arsenal supporters as well as the wider public.But McCoist has backed the midfielder and says the fact such a damaging story has been leaked by one of his colleagues tells you more about the current state of Arsenal as a club than the player himself.And he asked on talkSPORT, can you imagine a story like this coming out of Liverpool?
Ally McCoist has defended Mesut Ozil and insists he does plenty of work for charity
The Rangers legend said on the talkSPORT Breakfast: It tells you the quality of your teammate Mesut Ozil is dealing with, because hes effectively got a snitch in his dressing room.Whatever you think of Mesut Ozil, I think its completely out of order that a private conversation regarding a wage reduction has been made public, and its been made public for a reason to make him look bad.So taking the issue of the wage reduction to one side, straight away hes got a problem with somebody in that dressing room or somebody at that club, of that there is absolutely no doubt.Ive read so many good things about Mesut Ozil, what hes willing to do and what he has done for charities all over the place.Ozil has been the target of scorn for many frustrated Arsenal fans over the last few years due to his enormous wages and inconsistent performances on the pitch, but his charity work has gone under the radar.Ozil is an ambassador for childrens charity Rays of Sunshine and has regularly worked with them since 2018.
Im happy to announce on my birthday, the best present of all which is I have become an ambassador for @RaysofSunshine! I’m looking forward to continue spreading rays of sunshine by helping grant wishes for seriously ill children across the UK #M1Öpic.twitter.com/tZeaDk0fjR
— Mesut Özil (@MesutOzil1088) October 15, 2018
He and his wife alsomarked their wedding day by refusing gifts from guests and instead paying for 1,000 children to have life-changing surgery, and also donated funds to feed 100,000 homeless people at 16 refugee camps in Turkey and Syria.In 2014 the playmaker also donated his World Cup winnings – a estimated £240,000 – to pay for 23 Brazilian children to have surgery.Speaking on talkSPORT on Saturday, host Tony Cascarino insisted players and coaches have the right to refuse wage cuts and decide how to put their own money to good use during this crisis, insisting that top-level clubs do not need their players to help them stay afloat financially.
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And McCoist says the fact the story is out in the public means there are problems behind the scenes at Arsenal.He added: I think it says more about whats going on within the club at this moment of time can you imagine a story like that coming out of Liverpool or Manchester City about one of their players?It just wouldnt happen because they are solid as a team, solid as a unit, and I think it tells you more about Arsenal and indeed about Mesut Ozils standing in that dressing room that somebody has tried to damage him.”
Listen back to a clip of Ally McCoist on the talkSPORT Breakfast above