+++ Özil on his time at Werder: Germany international and World Cup winner looks back on his time in Bremen fondly. In an interview in the club’s official magazine, the Arsenal playmaker tells about the significant impact of his experience at Werder. "I had a nice time at Schalke and made my professional debut there. Then I went to Bremen and I think that was the step that really started everything and where I really started to develop and become who I am today. Bremen made me more mature. I moved away from my hometown, from my family and friends, and came to a city where I didn’t know anyone. That’s a big step to take as a footballer, those off-the-pitch factors are ones that people maybe sometimes don’t see. Bremen was my first real step into the world of a professional footballer," said the 27-year-old. At the age of 20, Mesut Özil transferred from Schalke to Bremen, where he would play for the next two-and-a-half years. +++
