New statistics have confirmed that new Arsenal signing Mesut Ozil, is trumping his replacement at Real Madrid, Gareth Bale, in shirts sales.
According to leading online retailer UKSoccershop.com, Ozil is outselling the Welsh winger by five to one. It makes it look as if the Gunners did better business in the transfer market, as they splashed £42.5million on the German playmaker, while the Spanish giants paid £86million for Bale.
UKSoccershop.com managing director Simon Pretswell said: “Leaving aside the debate over Bale’s sporting merits, a large part of any major transfer is often the commercial advantages associated with the signing of the player.
“In the case of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and previous stars such as David Beckham, it is almost a license to print money for the club as shirt sales and other merchandising goes through the roof.
“While it would be untrue to say there is not an interest in Bale shirts, our sales data shows he is being significantly outsold by Mesut Ozil and is not attracting the same level of attention generated by Neymar when he transferred to Barcelona earlier in the summer.
“Bale’s talents as a footballer are undoubted, but he has never been one of our bestselling Premiership players, with supporters preferring the likes of Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie, Steven Gerrard and even Fernando Torres.”
Madrid have come under heavy criticism for selling Ozil, even from club vice captain Sergio Ramos and Cristiano Ronaldo.
TOP SELLING SHIRTS IN PREMIER LEAGUE LAST SEASON
1. Robin van Persie (Manchester United)
2. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
3. Shinji Kagawa (Manchester United)
4. Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)
5. Fernando Torres (Chelsea)
6. Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
7. Luis Suarez (Liverpool)
8. Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)
9. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal)
10. Santo Cazorla (Arsenal)
