LONDON - Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has admitted that it was a mistake to sell the classy playmaker Mesut Oezil to the English football club Arsenal.

The Spanish giants allowed the German to leave for London in September after splashing out a world-record £85 million (S$177 million) on Tottenham's Gareth Bale.

And the Italian manager believes now that they may have erred in doing so.

Ancelotti told Gulf News on Monday: "I think we made a mistake when we gave him the possibility to leave the club."

Since moving to the Emirates for a reported £41.5 million, Oezil has been brilliant for Arsenal, scoring four league goals and assisting in eight more, noted British tabloid The Daily Express.

Isco is currently Real's main attacking midfielder.

But, while the Spaniard has bagged six goals and four assists this season in La Liga, few would claim the 21-year-old is on the same level as the man he replaced.

Real are third in the Spanish top tier behind joint leaders Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, while Arsenal top the English Premier League. The Gunners entertain Fulham on Saturday in the race for their first trophy in nine years.