As one of world football’s most recognisable stars, Mesut Ozil is mobbed wherever he goes – but he says the level of support in China is “crazy”.

The World Cup winner visited the country in 2011 with former club Real Madrid, and admits he was taken aback by the reception he received.

“I didn’t see a lot of things because you know, if you are in pre-season you always train or have a few games,” Ozil told Arsenal Player. “But I just remember the people are very nice, very kind, very open and they are crazy!

“It was crazy. I know they all support Real Madrid and Arsenal as well, so I’m really excited to go there [this summer] because I just know the people are going to go crazy when we arrive there.

“It means a lot to me [to have so many fans in Asia]. They are always supporting me, in the good times as well as the bad times. I’m really, really thankful for that and I know that I have a lot of fans in China as well.

“So it’s good for me and for my fans to get in touch like that and they have the opportunity maybe to get [items] signed or make a picture, maybe they can come to London to see us.”