Do you remember the name, Santi Cazorla? Of course you do. The small-sized director, who was on the books of Arsenal between 2012 and 2018, enjoyed a renaissance with Villarreal.
Everyone loves a sporty return and this is definitely one of them. A string of career-threatening injuries threatened to reduce Cazorla’s beloved livelihood, to the extent that he didn’t kick a ball for 636 days while his stay in the Emirates ended rather abruptly and sadly.
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The creative dynamo that is Santi Cazorla has conquered LaLiga this season
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At the age of 35, the little director is producing the best football of his career
At one point the situation became so bad for the Spaniard that he almost had to have his foot amputated.
“He [foot specialist] I saw that I had a tremendous infection, that I had damaged part of the heel bone and had eaten the Achilles tendon, “said Cazorla in 2017.” Eight centimeters were missing. “
After being informed by the London doctors, it was unlikely that he would play again, the midfielder refused to accept that verdict.
He returned to his homeland in an attempt to rebuild his career, rejoining the club where he started his game days after a successful test. Cazorla impressed during his first campaign at the Estadio El Madrigal, but in 2019/20 he really stormed LaLiga and proved to be a true creative dynamo – just like he was in the Emirates.
No midfielder in Spain’s top flight has contributed as many combined goals and assists as Cazorla, whose total is now 16, eight of each, following a scandalous layoff in Villarreal’s 2-0 win against Valencia on Sunday.
This feat is all the more impressive considering that he is 35 years old. As the saying goes, there is definitely life in the old dog, still.
The hosts were already 1-0 ahead when Cazorla produced a moment of magic against Valencia when goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo threw the ball just before half-time.
Cazorla produced a simply irresistible touch to cushion the ball in the path of teammate Gerard Moreno, who then launched an equally sumptuous volley beyond the Dutch goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen and into the back of the net.
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The 35-year-old would have enjoyed another season in the Champions League
Incredibly, Cazorla has been directly involved in 30 LaLiga goals in 64 games since returning to Villarreal in August (12 goals and 18 assists).
Javier Calleja’s victory means that they are now only three points behind Sevilla in the running for a spot in the Champions League next season.
A final arc in the European elite competition would be nothing more than the little Spanish magician deserves.
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