Arsenal cult hero wakes up unemployed at 38 after leaving latest club as he mulls return to former team
AN UNEMPLOYED Arsenal legend is allegedly on the brink of signing for Villarreal for a FOURTH time.
This Spanish international star began a professional career in 2003 at Villarreal after proving his abilities at his hometown club, Real Oviedo.
He departed for one season to join Recreativo Huelva in 2006 but returned to the Yellow Submarine 12 months later.
This ace soon became the club’s standout player earning him Spain’s Footballer of the Year Award.
The ace then moved to La Liga side Malaga in a club-record £18.2m deal and quickly caught the eye of Europe’s big guns during his one season there.
That led to a switch to the Premier League with Arsenal in 2011 and he soon became a huge fan favourite.
The man in question is, of course, Santi Cazorla.
The midfielder went on to help end Arsenal’s nine-year trophy drought with a goal in the 2014 FA Cup Final as they came from two down to beat Hull City 3-2.
He registered thirteen assists during his first year at the club and was named Player of the Season but unfortunately his career was abruptly halted by a devastating injury blow.
Injuries plagued much of Cazorla’s football career which saw him play with a cracked bone during an international friendly between Spain and Chile in 2013.
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In 2016 he underwent surgery to the damaged ankle but was struck with an infection further complicating his recovery.
This would unfortunately become a running theme for Cazorla who endured a number of reopened wounds, gangrene and bacterial bug infections.
One such infection had eaten away at his Achilles tendon spreading to the bone and putting him in danger of losing his leg.
Since his original injury, Cazorla had a total of 10 operations including one skin-graft procedure which removed flesh from his left forearm removing his tattoo dedicated to his daughter India.
And that led to Cazorla, who also lifted the FA Cup again in 2015, leaving Arsenal when his contract expired in 2018, reigniting his love affair with Villarreal for a third time.
He made 70 appearances over the next two campaigns, scoring 15 times, but at the age of 35 he headed out to Qatar to sign for Al Sadd in 2020.
The Spaniard has won the lot with the club in the three years since, lifting the Qatar Stars League and Emir Cup twice, the Qatar Cup once and the Stars Cup.
Cazorla recently sent Villarreal supporters, who continue to worship him, into a frenzy last month after taking part in the LaLiga Promises youth tournament, in Castellon.
He confirmed that he was leaving Al Sadd but wanted to play at the top level for at least one more year.
And they instantly began to beg him to come back to the Yellow Submarine.
Now that seems to have taken a step closer to becoming reality.
Football Espana claim that he is currently “considering an offer” from Villarreal to return for a fourth stint.
He opted against a new deal with Al Sadd, meaning he woke up on Saturday unemployed.
But this fresh update states he already has a proposal from his old club on the table.
And, despite turning 39 later this year, a comeback to the LaLiga club has “moved a step closer”.
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