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Ozil Tells Arsenal 'I'll Decide When I Go'

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Manchester City - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - December 15, 2019 Arsenal's Mesut Ozil before the match REUTERS/Hannah McKay
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Manchester City - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - December 15, 2019 Arsenal's Mesut Ozil before the match REUTERS/Hannah McKay
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Ozil Tells Arsenal 'I'll Decide When I Go'

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Manchester City - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - December 15, 2019 Arsenal's Mesut Ozil before the match REUTERS/Hannah McKay
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Manchester City - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - December 15, 2019 Arsenal's Mesut Ozil before the match REUTERS/Hannah McKay

Mesut Ozil insists he is the only person who will decide when he leaves Arsenal after the German star was frozen out by Gunners boss Mikel Arteta.

Ozil has not played for Arsenal since the coronavirus hiatus amid reports the club are keen to get his huge salary off the wage bill.

The 31-year-old earns a reported £350,000-per-week ($458,000), but has rarely provided good value since his 2013 move from Real Madrid.

Ozil was absent as Arsenal beat Chelsea in the FA Cup final on August 1, but he will not allow the club to force him out before his contract expires in June 2021.

Holding out hope of winning back his place next season, Ozil told the Athletic: "Things have been difficult but I love Arsenal. I'll decide when I go, not other people.

"I'll give everything I have for this club. Situations like these will never break me, they only make me stronger.

"I showed in the past that I can come back into the team and I will show it again."

Ozil fell out of favor with Arteta's predecessor Unai Emery, but started all 10 of Arsenal's Premier League games after the former Gunners midfielder took charge in December.

However, he has not featured in their past 13 matches in all competitions, with Arteta saying his exile was down to "football reasons".

Ozil believes he deserves another chance and he said: "You don't play 10 games in a row if you're unfit, not good enough or don't behave well."

Arteta and many Arsenal players accepted a 12.5 percent pay cut in April as a result of the financial fall-out from the coronavirus.

But Ozil did not vote for the cut and he is concerned that "possibly the decision affected my chances on the pitch.

"As players, we all wanted to contribute. But we needed more information and many questions were unanswered."

Ozil fears there is now an agenda against him that will make the rest of his time at Arsenal uncomfortable.

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Sports

Barcelona Need a Point Against Real Madrid to Win La Liga

Barcelona's German coach Hans-Dieter Flick gives a press conference on the eve of the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF at Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona on May 9, 2026. (AFP)
Barcelona's German coach Hans-Dieter Flick gives a press conference on the eve of the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF at Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona on May 9, 2026. (AFP)
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Barcelona Need a Point Against Real Madrid to Win La Liga

Barcelona's German coach Hans-Dieter Flick gives a press conference on the eve of the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF at Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona on May 9, 2026. (AFP)
Barcelona's German coach Hans-Dieter Flick gives a press conference on the eve of the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF at Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona on May 9, 2026. (AFP)

Barcelona only need a draw against Real Madrid in a high-stakes Clasico to clinch back-to-back La Liga titles later Sunday, with Madrid in disarray after a dressing-room bust-up between two of their leading players.

Hansi Flick's side have an 11-point lead over their age-old rivals and while one point would be enough, a victory would keep them on course to make history -- and celebrate in style.

If Barcelona win their last four league games this season, starting with the battle against Alvaro Arbeloa's fracturing Madrid in Catalonia, they will match the all-time league record of 100 points.

Should Barca beat Madrid and then Real Betis the following weekend, they will become the first team to win all their home matches in a 38-game La Liga season.

The tension around Madrid after a season in which they will finish without a trophy for just the fifth time this century burst to the surface in extraordinary fashion this week.

A post-training clash between French midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni and teammate Federico Valverde left the Uruguayan requiring hospital treatment for a head injury, and out for a fortnight.

Valverde's explanation that he "accidentally" collided with a table during the argument "causing a small cut on my forehead" failed to smooth over the situation.

The club imposed a 500,000-euro ($590,000) fine on each player and says they have apologized to each other and to their teammates, the club's staff and to Madrid supporters.

Arbeloa said he was happy that the club had acted swiftly and that the players had "acknowledged their mistake, expressed their regret, accepted the consequences of what they have done, and asked for forgiveness."

"For me, that's enough. What I'm not going to do is burn them at the stake in public, because they don't deserve that... because of what they've shown me over these four months and over these years," the Madrid coach added.

He said despite the confrontation, Tchouameni would be in the squad for the Clasico.

- Barcelona cohesion -

Barcelona coach Flick said the incident at Madrid was something you see in other clubs, but it was not "normal".

"It happens around the world, so it's not only a thing at Real... was I surprised? Maybe a little bit," Flick told reporters.

"But in the end, I don't care about that, because it's not my club, it's not my team. So I don't have to think about that."

Flick was at pains though to stress that in contrast to Madrid, everybody at Barcelona was on the same page.

"The most important thing, and what I really appreciate a lot in this club, is that we are all going the same way," the German explained.

"When something happens, we are talking in the same way."

Adding to the raft of statistics, Barca could become the first team to clinch La Liga in a Clasico since 1932, when Madrid won their first Spanish league.

"We want to win the title, the second in a row," Flick said.

"It's amazing, not normal, here in Spain. So this is what we want to do, nothing else, nothing more."

Madrid will not be able to count on Kylian Mbappe. The French forward has been recovering from a hamstring injury and trained with his teammates on Friday, but he was not on the squad list issued by the club on social media on Sunday.

Barcelona's young star Lamine Yamal will also watch from the stands -- the 18-year-old's own hamstring injury is expected to sideline him until the World Cup.

Sports

Galatasaray Crowned Turkish Champions

Galatasaray supporters celebrate after their team won the Turkish Super Lig soccer tournament at Taksim square in Istanbul, Türkiye, Saturday, May 9, 2026. (AP)
Galatasaray supporters celebrate after their team won the Turkish Super Lig soccer tournament at Taksim square in Istanbul, Türkiye, Saturday, May 9, 2026. (AP)
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Galatasaray Crowned Turkish Champions

Galatasaray supporters celebrate after their team won the Turkish Super Lig soccer tournament at Taksim square in Istanbul, Türkiye, Saturday, May 9, 2026. (AP)
Galatasaray supporters celebrate after their team won the Turkish Super Lig soccer tournament at Taksim square in Istanbul, Türkiye, Saturday, May 9, 2026. (AP)

Galatasaray secured their fourth consecutive Turkish league title on Saturday after a 4-2 home win over Antalyaspor.

The Istanbul club are four points ahead of arch-rivals Fenerbahce, who they beat 3-0 last month, with one match remaining.

Led by star striker Nigerian Victor Osimhen, Galatasaray have qualified directly for the Champions League again after making it to the knock-out round this year, notably routing Juventus along the way.

The most successful Turkish club with 26 titles had previously won four consecutive league titles in the late 1990s.

Without a title for twelve years, the longest drought in their history, Fenerbahce sacked their coach and sporting director the day after their derby defeat to Galatasaray.

Sports

Sevilla Strike Late to Boost Survival Hopes, Celta Edge Atletico

Sevilla's players celebrate their victory following the Spanish La Liga match between Sevilla FC and Espanyol in Seville, Spain, 09 May 2026. (EPA)
Sevilla's players celebrate their victory following the Spanish La Liga match between Sevilla FC and Espanyol in Seville, Spain, 09 May 2026. (EPA)
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Sevilla Strike Late to Boost Survival Hopes, Celta Edge Atletico

Sevilla's players celebrate their victory following the Spanish La Liga match between Sevilla FC and Espanyol in Seville, Spain, 09 May 2026. (EPA)
Sevilla's players celebrate their victory following the Spanish La Liga match between Sevilla FC and Espanyol in Seville, Spain, 09 May 2026. (EPA)

Akor Adams snatched Sevilla a late 2-1 victory over Espanyol in La Liga on Saturday to increase their chances of avoiding relegation.

Celta Vigo earned a 1-0 win at Atletico Madrid to keep their ambitions of qualifying for the Champions League alive, which were further boosted by Real Betis's 2-2 draw at Real Sociedad.

Nigeria forward Adams's 91st minute strike propelled record seven-time Europa League winners Sevilla provisionally up to 12th, three points clear of the relegation zone.

Espanyol, now without a win in 18 league matches -- all of 2026 to date -- sit 15th, two points above the drop zone, after a bad-tempered match with 10 yellow cards.

Tyrhys Dolan slammed home for Espanyol early in the second half at Sevilla's Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan stadium, before the hosts hit back.

Sevilla defender Andres Castrin scored to level in the 82nd minute with the help of some poor handling by Espanyol goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic.

In stoppage time Adams pounced on a loose ball and produced a clinical finish to secure a crucial victory for Luis Garcia Plaza's team.

"This comeback, I think it brings us closer, closer to what we've been looking for," Castrin told Movistar.

"It was essential to win here today, to get the three points with these wonderful people (the fans).

"Thanks to them -- they have lifted us, have carried us, and you could really feel the atmosphere, how it influenced those final minutes when the goal comes at the end."

Earlier Alaves, 18th and one point from safety, drew 1-1 against Elche, 13th, who are not yet safe from the specter of relegation either.

At Atletico's Metropolitano stadium Borja Iglesias scored a fine goal for Celta, sixth, to help them keep pressure on Real Betis, fifth.

The hosts, with nothing left to play for this season after Champions League semi-final elimination by Arsenal this week, are fourth and already assured of playing in that competition again next season.

It was confirmed earlier this week that five Spanish sides will qualify for the Champions League from La Liga, guaranteeing Atletico a spot.

- 'Happy to be in the fight' -

Spain international Iglesias's neat chip helped Celta move within three points of Real Betis, who face Real Sociedad later on.

"Even in the toughest moments this team has kept on dreaming," Iglesias told DAZN.

"Obviously it's not easy to compete at this level, we're happy to be in this fight right now.

"If we keep on looking upwards, just imagine... I think we deserve it, and we'll try to get it."

Real Betis threw away a two-goal lead in a draw at Real Sociedad, leaving them four points ahead of Celta with three games to go.

Former Manchester United winger Antony missed two huge chances before eventually sending the Andalucians ahead with the hardest of his opportunities, curling home from outside the box.

Ez Abde scored a superb second for the visitors soon after half-time, surging in down the left and whipping a strike into the top corner.

Orri Oskarsson pulled one back for the Basques, eighth, and Mikel Oyarzabal levelled from the penalty spot in the 90th minute after Aitor Ruibal handled.

Ruibal was later sent off for a second yellow card for a foul as Betis left frustrated.

On Sunday, La Liga leaders Barcelona can wrap up back-to-back Spanish titles if they avoid defeat against arch-rivals Real Madrid in the Clasico at Camp Nou.