Santi Cazorla Bids Adieu To Villarreal

The Spanish midfielder, Santi Cazorla has left Spanish side Villarreal for a second time, after returning to the club in the summer of 2018. The dynamic midfielder who is now 35 years of age, came through the ranks at Villarreal after joining the club’s reserve side as a 19-year-old from Real Oviedo. He played 243 times for Villarreal between 2003 and 2011.

A brief stint at Malaga followed before the 81-time Spain international went to Arsenal in 2012 – spending six years in north London and clocking up 180 appearances. He had a hand in 74 goals, scoring 29 and creating 45. Two FA Cup titles and two Community Shields followed, as did a serious ankle injury that needed multiple operations. There were even concerns that Cazorla may have his foot amputated, due to gangrene.

Cazorla returned and after leaving Arsenal to return to Villarreal in 2018, he has rediscovered his best form despite the injury. At 35, he has netted 22 goals and created the same amount in 86 games. there are rumours that he would be joining Xavi’s Al Saad or Arsenal again under Arteta. A magical player and undoubtedly one of the best Spanish player in the Premier League.

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Santi Cazorla joins Qatari champions Al-Sadd, where he will be managed by ex-Spain team-mate Xavi :raised_hands:

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In total, Cazorla made 333 appearances for Villarreal across his three stints at El Madrigal. He contributed 57 goals to the cause and will be remembered as an all-time great by the Liga outfit.

Cazorla is also fondly remembered at Arsenal, where he spent six years , and he is a two-time European Championship winner with the Spanish national team.

’Magician’ Santi Cazorla shows off skill - Simply amazing!!! :innocent:

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Cazorla operates primarily as an attacking midfielder, but can also play as a winger, central midfielder or as a deep-lying playmaker.

Cazorla began his professional career at Villarreal in 2003 after impressing as a youngster with his hometown club, Real Oviedo. He continued his development at Villarreal before a short spell at partner club, Recreativo de Huelva. After becoming the club’s standout player in the 2006–07 La Liga season, contributing to their top-ten finish and being awarded Spanish Footballer of the Year, Cazorla returned to Villarreal for €1.2 million the following season. He then firmly established himself as a key contributor to the side, regularly being named in the La Liga Team of the Season. In 2011, following five fruitful seasons on the Spanish coast, Cazorla moved to fellow La Liga side Málaga in a club-record €21 million deal, where he gained a reputation for his speed, shooting accuracy, capacity to change the rhythm of gameplay, and excellent close control.

After the 2011–12 season, coupled with Málaga’s perilous financial situation, he moved to Premier League side Arsenal for a fee of £10 million, where he became a core component to the team in his first year at the club, registering thirteen assists, after which he was voted Arsenal Player of the Season, as well as becoming ranked one of the best footballers in Europe by Bloomberg. Cazorla was also integral in ending the club’s nine-year trophy drought, scoring a crucial free-kick en route to winning the FA Cup in 2014. Injuries plagued his latter years in England, and his six-year association with Arsenal ended in 2018. He then returned to Villarreal for a third spell; in his debut season, he recorded his highest appearance tally in four seasons.

Cazorla made his senior debut for Spain in a victory against Peru in May 2008, and was a semi-regular participant in the nation’s triumphs at UEFA Euro 2008 and Euro 2012, as well as featuring at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He scored his first international goal in a friendly match against Chile, and has since amassed 80 appearances and 15 goals for the national side.

Santi Cazorla - Skills & Goals! Skill Show

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