Q: Why did it take you time to adapt to the team in the beginning?
A: Part of it was the language. Now the communication with the coach is impeccable and I know exactly what he wants. I’m studying with a German company that has a new method of teaching castellano. I spend several hours a day with a Spaniard. We have breakfast together and we eat lunch after the training session. We do things together, and so you advance rapidly. [Note: where can I sign up to work for this company? I can both help out the foreign players with their Spanish and Iker + Sergio with their English!] Plus, there were differences between Spanish and German football.
Q: How did you find out that Madrid was interested in you?
A: My agent told me.
Q: A lot of people were surprised when you visited Mourinho at Valdebebas while still a Stuttgart player. How did you get in?
A: It’s a secret! Through the back door (laughs). My vacation hadn’t started yet and Mourinho had already contacted me via text. I was intrigued to know what he wanted of me.
Q: And how did the conversation go?
A: It was a short visit. He managed to convince me in only three minutes!
Q: Love at first sight?
A: More or less (laughs). He was very convincing.
Q: Is the locker room what you expected?
A: Everything is bigger and more extravagant than in Stuttgart. I was impressed. It’s more professional and pleasant. And there’s a great atmosphere. The fact that I had played against some of the stars of Spain helped me to be mentally prepared. Then, when I arrived, it seemed to be one big family.
Q: Who was your childhood idol?
A: There was only one, Zidane, who’s one of a kind.
Q: When did you start following him?
A: In the 1998 World Cup. I was 11. That was a great team. And that’s when I saw how great he was.
Q: And your first memories of Real Madrid?
A: From watching the 2002 Champions League final against Leverkusen, although the club was always present in my life, like it is in the lives of all children. There’s a lot of news about them in Germany.
Q: Do you follow politics?
A: Of course. It’s an important topic, no? It was an incredible moment when Ms. Merkel came into the locker room and held out her hand to Özil. It was something to remember. We all were surprised with the situation.
Q: Are you religious?
A: I’m Muslim.
Q: As are Özil, Diarrá, Benzema. Do you all have any rituals before the games?
A: Each one has his personal thing. I don’t take it very seriously. I comply with the norms and the rituals, but I don’t do anything special before games.
Q: Your mother is German and your father Tunisian. How did they meet?
A: My father visited a friend who was married to a German woman. That was their initial contact. And he stayed. He didn’t speak any German.
Q: What has he told you about that time?
A: That it was difficult. But he’s an example of surmounting hardships. He worked for a metallurgical company. He showed me that something impossible could become possible.
Q: Did your father play football?
A: Yes, he was a goalkeeper, but he never played professionally.
Q: What is the best advice he’s given you?
A: The values of life. Above all, to be sincere and to chase my dreams. He insisted on this. He had a direct influence on helping me become more motivated: that’s how I got onto the national team, and Madrid.
Q: You entered Stuttgart’s academy at the age of eight. Were you bigger than the other boys, like you are now?
A: Yes, I’ve always been one of the bigger kids. Everyone said that I had a problem with speed. It seemed that I did everything slowly because I was so big. Then, they did some tests and found out I was one of the faster ones. And so everyone apologized to me.
Q: Who would you give the Ballon d’Or to?
A: It’s very complicated. Xavi, Sneijder… there are a few names and they’re all great players, and all who played in the World Cup played very well. I would love it if a German player won it…