After being ruled out for a massive 19 months with a succession of injuries stemming from tendon issues in 2016, Santi Cazorla has been recovering, only recently joining the first-team training.
Arsenal fans have been rejoicing believing that the Spanish maestro would bring back some more creative flair to the midfield that the North London club have been lacking.
This hope has quickly turned to despair, with the 33-year-old’s contract running out this summer, reports are coming in that the attacking midfielder may be moving to his hometown club, Villareal.
Cazorla who has been earning £90,000-a-week, played for Villareal from 2007 to 2011, impressing the local crowd as a young talent. Villareal club ambassador Marcos Senna, who played with Cazorla at the Spanish side, gave away a huge amount after the team’s 2-2 draw with Real Madrid.
According to the Daily Star, the Brazilian stated “I would love to confirm it [as a permanent transfer]… But at the moment what I’ve said is that there are advanced negotiations between Santi Cazorla and Villareal for the player to spend pre-season with the club. Cazorla will be a free agent.”
This may come as a shock to many fans who have believed Cazorla would be returning to the first team after his injury.
It may also be seen as a move that the Spaniard will make before retiring, being 33 years old and suffering such a long-term injury will make it very tough for the player to rejoin a top Premier League side like Arsenal; this may be prompting the move back to Villareal, who finished 5th in La Liga this season.
It may be a tough blow to lose a player like Santi Cazorla, but with Jack Wilshere’s return to first-team football, Aaron Ramsey having a brilliant season and winning Arsenal player of the season, and the potential purchase of Nice midfielder Jean Micheal-Seri, the midfield may become congested with stars.
Saying this, it is still believed that if Arteta is made the manager of Arsenal, Cazorla could join on in a coaching role at the club. This would be brilliant if it could take place, giving Arsenal an even stronger backroom staff.
The midfielder will be missed sorely if he leaves this summer, but after becoming something of a fan-favourite at the Arsenal, if Santi wants to return to his hometown club, I’m sure Arsenal fans will want the best for the player.
