Mesut Özil has been hot property ever since he starred at the World Cup this summer, but for those who've watched him play over the last 2 years, his talent has been apparent much earlier on. He enjoyed an excellent season in 08/09 as Werder Bremen reached the final of the UEFA Cup, but following the departure of Diego last summer, Özil has managed to step up his game another level.
Despite being just 21, Özil plays with the maturity and delivers the end product of someone far more experienced. Unlike most traditional playmakers, Özil's game isn't about sitting in the hole and spraying passes around. His movement off the ball is exceptional and he's a master at exploiting gaps in the opposition defence with his direct runs. On paper he plays centrally but in reality he drifts all over the attacking 3rd, finding pockets of space to shoot or square the ball to teammates. His combination of movement, composure, passing and set piece ability makes him one of the top creative players in the world. There's definitely more to come from him in the future, and he has the potential to be one of the leading players of his generation.
09/10 season stats: 46 games, 10 goals, 25 assists
Song: Offshore (Ambient Mix) by Chicane
