Ozil was Madrid's best player after Ronaldo, says Fabregas

The Spain international has voiced his admiration for the new Arsenal star and has once more stressed that he has no plans to leave Barcelona

Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas says new Arsenal signing Mesut Ozil was Real Madrid's best player after Cristiano Ronaldo and is surprised at los Blancos' decision to sell the Germany international.

The attacking midfielder left Madrid for the Gunners on deadline day of the summer transfer window for a transfer fee believed to be in the region of €50 million.

And Fabregas insists Ozil will prove to be a fine addition for his former team.

"Ozil was the second-best player at Real Madrid behind Cristiano Ronaldo," Fabregas told COPE.

"I could identify with him really well as we have a similar style of play. He's an amazing signing for Arsenal."

The midfielder then went on to stress that he has no intention of leaving Barcelona in the foreseeable future after rejecting a move to Manchester United earlier this summer.

"I enjoy a difficult challenge and succeeding at Barcelona is perhaps the toughest challenge there is. I hope to retire here. Leaving Barca has never been in my head," he added.

"I knew that there were clubs where I could earn more money when I joined Barcelona, but returning here was my dream.

"I made more money at Arsenal than now at Barca. I will not even leave if I could earn twice as much somewhere else."

Fabregas, 26, has a contract with Barcelona until June 2016.